At extract, we provide you with a curated insight into the comprehensive Collections and Archives of ETH Zurich.
Colonial Traces - Collections in Context
30. 08.2024 – 13. 07.2025
ETH Zurich's natural history collections house thousands of artefacts from former overseas colonies, including rocks and minerals, insects, animal and plant specimens. In the worldwide discussion surrounding art and cultural artefacts from colonial contexts, such objects play a subordinate role. The new exhibition at the ETH Library's extract puts them in the spotlight, questions their past, and sheds light on the connections between science and colonialism.
Imperialism and research
In the age of high imperialism, scientific research in the colonies became increasingly important. It served the colonial powers to gain knowledge and to consolidate political and economic interests. As a university with an international reputation, ETH Zurich also sent experts overseas to research flora and fauna, topography, and mineral resources. Numerous objects thus found their way into the natural history collections of ETH Zurich.
Curated by: Dr Monique Ligtenberg
Scenography: Charles O. Job & Maude von Giese
The visit is free of charge and open to the public during opening hours.
The exhibition is also designed in English. An English-language brochure is available in the exhibition room.
An exhibition in search of traces
Based on selected objects, the exhibition explores traces of colonialism in the collections and archives of ETH Zurich:
It enquires into the provenance of these objects
It investigates the role of colonial research expeditions and indigenous expertise in scientific careers at ETH in the 19th and early 20th centuries
It points to a general connection between science and colonial conquest and exploitation
The collections and archives aim to contribute to current debates on decolonisation and to develop an active attitude and role in dealing with their colonial holdings. Ongoing projects
ETH Zurich sheds light on the current extract exhibition in its article ‘Taking a closer look’.
