Joëlle Flumet, "Anthropocene", 2024. Photo courtesy of the artist. Several torches, anchored in a circle, illuminate Joëlle Flumet’s cast bronze chimpanzee group, Anthropozän , first presented on the night of 24 November 2024 at Schulanlage Freilager in Zürich. The cool night air condenses into small clouds with each breath. The lifelike eyes of the chimpanzees, painted and sealed with automotive lacquer ¹ animate the sculptures, inviting viewers into a contemplative encoun

Bacchantenzug” (procession of Bacchantes) by Adolf Meyer, 1900. Photo: Augustina Zeya One radiant summer afternoon, I found myself strolling along the lakeside promenade of Seefeldquai in Zürich, when the light caught a long, elegant relief. The inscription simply bore the name “A. Meyer”, and nestled beside it, the date “1900”. There was no further plaque or explanatory panel, just the artist’s name and year. I paused, spellbound. I was standing before a work that was 125 ye

Zwei Licht-Prismen by Heinz Mack, 2002. Vaduz, Lichtenstein. Photo : Augustina Zeya “They are the dreams that one dreams when light sleeps with matter.” Heinz Mack I remember the moment clearly: a hot August afternoon in Vaduz, the Alpine air shimmering, when I first came upon Heinz Mack’s Zwei Licht-Prismen ... two tall, triangular stelae that caught the sun and seemed to split it into coloured atmospheres. Standing before them I felt a peculiar mixture of astonishment and

Kugelbrunnen by Christian Tobin. Photo: Augustina Zeya. It seems as if people in Zurich enjoy standing in line almost as much as the English, who are world-famous for their queues. Be it for a trendy gelato spot, a flat-white-to-go from a hipstery espresso joint, pistachio chocolate gone viral, or for visiting a ludicrously expensive apartment that just happens to be a tad less ludicrously expensive than all the other ones. But waiting in line just to be able to touch a work

Stadtlounge – Roter Platz, Pipilotti Rist (artist) and Carlos Martinez (architect). Photo: Johannes Mar In the heart of the Bleicheli-Quartier of St. Gallen lies the striking and unconventional public art project known as the Stadtlounge, or Red Square. Conceived by the multimedia and video artist Pipilotti Rist together with architect Carlos Martinez, the work was commissioned by Raiffeisen Schweiz as part of the final development stage of the Bleicheli quarter and was compl

Binary Clock (Patterns) by Norbert Möslang. Photo: Johannes Mar In 2018, St. Gallen’s Hauptbahnhof unveiled a striking public artwork on its south-facing glass cubus: a binary clock designed by Swiss media artist Norbert Möslang. Created as part of a “Kunst-am-Bau” competition for the station renovation, Möslang’s design was selected from eight submissions and implemented with a budget of approximately CHF 324,000 (I know, it’s unusual to see such exact figures in open source

La Boule d’or centenaire by Dieter Meier. Zurich HB. Photo by Augustina Zeya. When traversing the polished stone concourse of Zurich’s Hauptbahnhof, a casual glance downward may reveal something unexpected: a golden sphere, embedded in the ground, shimmering quietly beneath reinforced glass. This is La Boule d’or centenaire , the Golden Century Ball, by Swiss conceptual artist and musician Dieter Meier. More than just an artwork, the Golden Century Ball is a distillation of M

Carsten Höller, Denkmal für Hans Künzi, 2017, Hauptbahnhof Zürich (Exit Eurpaaallee). Photo by Christian Beutler. Courtesy of Zürich Tourismus At first glance, it might be easy to overlook. Suspended quietly above the entrance to Europaplatz at Zürich’s main train station, a choreography of light plays out in the background of daily life. These glowing circles are not just an elegant design. They form the Denkmal für Hans Künzi , a public artwork by renowned artist Carsten H

Tastende Lichter  by Pipilotti Rist.  Photo: Markus Gut Having lived in Zurich for three years, I find myself walking the same familiar streets , treading the same pavements, always looking down... carefully, rhythmically, like a clockwork mechanism. I know the texture of the cobblestones, the shade of the tram lines, the pace of a city that is entirely focused on the "here" and the "now." And almost never do I lift my eyes to the sky. But one day something changed. Maybe it

Pavillon Sculpture  by Max Bill in Zürich/Switzerland, 2007. Photo: Matt Mechtley  At the corner of Bahnhofstrasse and Pelikanstrasse, not far from Paradeplatz, there’s an unexpected place of calm. The Pavilion Sculpture stands amid Zurich’s bustling banking district and noisy luxury shopping mile—a loudly quiet public artwork by Swiss artist, architect, and graphic designer Max Bill. Created in 1983, it remains one of the most iconic public sculptures in Zurich—loved and fre

L’Ange Protecteur by Niki de Saint Phalle. Photo: Augustina Zeya For many first-time visitors to Zürich, arriving by train, one of the most unforgettable sights is the striking angel that seems to hover above the main concourse of the Hauptbahnhof. With her golden wings and vibrant, colorful form, Niki de Saint Phalle’s L’Ange Protecteur  has become a beloved symbol of the city, welcoming travelers in an unexpected burst of whimsy and joy. Installed on 14 November 1997, the a

Pétales et jardin de la nymphe Ancolie by Max Ernst, 2024. Photo courtesy: Soeder One sunny afternoon a couple of years ago, not long after the grand reopening of the new Kunsthaus Zürich building and its bar, I wandered in out of casual curiosity. The space felt fresh and open, humming with a quiet kind of elegance. As I settled in, my eyes were instantly drawn to the vast mural stretching across one wall, a swirl of improbable forms, fantastical figures, and mysterious peta

Sihl-Ghüür Ivika by Peter Meister. Photo: Augustina Zeya. On an ordinary day in Zurich, as I pass by the Quellenstrasse tram stop near Limmatplatz, I always notice a large, friendly figure basking in the sun. This curious creature with a long tail brings a smile to my face each time I see it. Today, I decided to delve into its story and discover more about its origins. This charming figure is called Sihl-Ghüür Ivika , and her creation dates back to June 11, 1986. Crafted by t

Der ungezähmte Horizont by Yves Netzhammer. Photo: Jonas Spielman. In September 2024, a striking new landmark emerged in Zurich's Escher-Wyss district: a life-sized moving black horse perched atop a high-rise building. The figure appeared across multiple social media posts of astonished passers-by, sparking discussions about its origins filled with curiosity, and even confusion - until it became clear that this is a work of art. The artwork, titled Der ungezähmte Horizont  ("

“Harmonic Gate”  by Odland and Auinger. Europaalle. Photo: Johannes Mar One evening, I found myself at Hiltl, a glass of wine in hand, as the city around me began to shimmer in the soft hues of a fading rainbow. The sun had just started to dip behind the rooftops, casting long golden streaks across Europaallee. It was the kind of view that makes you pause, a brief stillness in the rhythm of a busy day. And then, something unusual happened. Though I was sitting in one of the m