Bilarab opens Swiss Non-conformist Design, Hope 2023 exhibitions
His Highness Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham al Said presided over a ceremony at the National Museum on Wednesday to inaugurate the exhibition of Swiss Non-conformist Design.
The exhibition was held in cooperation with the Embassy of the Swiss Confederation in Oman, within the context of celebration of the 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two friendly countries.
HH Sayyid Bilarab also opened another exhibition titled “Hope: Housing, People and Environment 2023”, which is organised by the German University of Technology (Gutech).
HH Sayyid Bilarab toured the Swiss Non-conformist Design exhibition, which celebrates the uniqueness of modern and contemporary Swiss design, right from the beginning of the 20th century, notably upon the emergence of the “Dada” movement in Zurich, through to postmodern expressions.
This exhibition, which will last until July 22, 2023, is the first appearance of this genre of Swiss design in the Middle East. It is one of the first exhibitions of its kind in the world outside Switzerland.
The exhibition is distinguished for its special focus on nonconformist design. Nearly 40 per cent of the pieces exhibited in Muscat have not been displayed before.
The exhibits are carefully selected from among high-level museum designs of pioneers of architecture in the 20th and 21st centuries.
HH Sayyid Bilarab listened to a detailed account of the pieces on display, including themes of ‘chairs’ and the culture of ‘sitting posture’, since sitting and communication between people acquires special significance in the aftermath of the
Coronavirus pandemic.
Jamal bin Hassan al Moosawi, Secretary-general of the National Museum, said that the event celebrates Swiss design and designers interested in the basic principles that underlines Omani and Swiss cultures.
On his turn, Thomas Oertle, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to the Sultanate of Oman, said that this unique exhibition of Swiss Nonconformist Design displays objects from iconic artists such as Le Corbusier or Sophie Arp Täuber, to items never exhibited before such as furniture of Pierre Jeanneret from the UNESCO World Heritage Site Chandigarh Capitol Complex in India, and finally to designs from contemporary Swiss artists such as Tom Strala.
Oertle pointed out that the exhibition is held within the framework of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Swiss Confederation — with more celebratory events that will follow.
He said that through this exhibition, the National Museum organised an open space for creative thinking, for reflection and exchanges between Omani and Swiss perspectives on art and design that will add a new dimension to the existing strong bilateral ties between the two countries.
HH Sayyid Bilarab toured the “Hope: Housing, People and Environment 2023” exhibition, which highlights the idea of building healthy, modern and sustainability cities.
Prof Dr Michael Braun, Rector of the German University of Technology in Oman (Gutech), said that “Hope: Housing, People and Environment 2023” exhibition is an initiative to promote peoplecentred planning to activate urban environments in Oman.
This initiative, he added, combines architecture, urban planning, social sciences, technology, environmental and sustainability aspects and many more.
Pedja Hadži-manović, a Swiss designer, presented a commemorative gift to HH Sayyid Bilarab at the conclusion of his visit to the two exhibitions. HH Sayyid Bilarab signed the VIP visitor’s book and expressed his admiration for the two exhibitions.