Exhibition archive
All past exhibitions in extract since 2023.
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.
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’.
Biodiversity: vulnerable richness.
25.08.2023 – 14.07.2024
Biodiversity is colourful. It is fragrant and melodious and takes on myriad forms. For centuries, researchers have examined this splendid variety on multiple levels, from species and ecosystems right down to individual genes. The exhibition "Biodiversity: vulnerable richness." at extract showcases a wide variety of insects and plants from collections held by ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich. Some of its specimens are truly spectacular. The exhibits reveal countless fascinating, previously untold stories. Many focus on the severe destruction that is being wrought upon biodiversity and the steps we can take to protect and promote this rapidly disappearing treasure.
Curated by: Dr Michael Greeff and Dr Alessia Guggisberg (ETH Zurich, D-USYS). With curatorial support by: Atlant Bieri.
Scenography: Christian Peter Imhof
During your visit, you can discover and explore
- an impressive room full of insects and plants, collected over the course of more than 200 years;
- an interactive “diversity machine” that brings the genetic diversity and genetic impoverishment of populations to life;
- a walk-in research station that transports you to the jungle of Madagascar and to the Central African savannah.
Key figures
- Visitors to the exhibition: 20,000
- Participants in the accompanying programme: 768
- Number of events: 25