Four exhibitions about the adventurous history of the Jura
Published: Sunday, Aug 18th 2024, 09:10
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An approach to the past, present and future of the canton of Jura: this is the common thread running through four exhibitions that can be seen until the end of September. This cultural project by the Jura-24 association marks the 50th anniversary of the referendum that led to the founding of the last Swiss canton.
The locations of Pruntrut, Delsberg, Moutier (BE) and Le Noirmont are the anchor points of this tour through the eventful and adventurous history of the young canton. All four exhibitions are accessible by public transport and use only reusable or recycled materials. Admission is free.
"These are not militant exhibitions," emphasizes association president Marie-José Portmann right at the start. "Jura-24 invites visitors to immerse themselves in the reality of the canton and discover its many facets," she tells the Keystone-SDA news agency.
History in sound and vision
In the imposing former customs hangar in Pruntrut, the exhibition "Des racines et des rêves" (Roots and Dreams) invites the public to retrace history in sound and vision. Portmann points out that the Jura is the only canton whose history can be traced back to its foundation through documents from RTS radio and television in French-speaking Switzerland.
In six 30-minute loops, the events that have shaped the history of the canton of Jura are presented in pictures, from the election of Elisabeth Baume-Schneider to the Federal Council to the autonomy efforts to the Moeckli affair in 1947. "For many Jura people, this is the story of their lives," says Portmann.
Under the aegis of the "Jura spirit of invention", 40 companies are exhibiting the iconic objects of their industrial or artisanal production in a 400 square meter wooden pavilion in Delsberg. In this way, they showcase their know-how and at the same time present themselves in an unusual and unexpected way.
"This is the first time that the leading representatives of Jura's industry and crafts are being presented under one roof," says Marie-José Portmann. The pavilion, which will also host lectures and concerts, is also the only Jura-24 infrastructure that has been built from scratch.
The future in Moutier
The Jura-24 event also includes the municipality of Moutier, which will join the canton of Jura on January 1, 2026. The "Rêver 2074" exhibition set up in the former SBB freight hall symbolically projects the Jura and Switzerland into the period one hundred years after the vote on self-determination. It also features three-dimensional works created by Jura school classes.
"La Chrysalide", a giant inflatable installation in the form of an insect chrysalis created by the imagination of French artist Arnaud Laffond, brings the longings and dreams of the "Prévôtois" to life. The inhabitants of Moutier were asked to fill in a questionnaire. Their words were translated into images by an algorithm using artificial intelligence, edited into a video and projected onto the sculpture.
In the Franches-Montagnes, the fourth exhibition "Le paysage en mouvement" focuses on how the landscape has been shaped by agriculture, animal husbandry and industry. In the former church of Le Noirmont, visitors can discover the Jura landscape through the works of famous painters. Contemporary photographs are juxtaposed with old views to show how the landscape has changed over time.
Success in the Jura, few guests from outside
The president of Jura-24 emphasizes that halfway through the exhibition, the public's comments were unanimously positive. While the people of the Jura largely accepted the organizers' invitation, guests from other cantons were "still too few in number".
However, the exhibitions have what it takes to surprise the other Swiss and challenge the clichés that people might have about Switzerland's youngest canton, says the former spokesperson for the Parliamentary Service in the Federal Palace. Portmann hopes that the target of 20,000 visitors will be reached in the fall.
The budget for this part of the 50th anniversary celebrations amounts to around CHF 800,000. The funds come from the Loterie Romande, the canton of Jura, the "Conseil consultatif des Jurassiens de l'extérieur" (CCJE), the host municipalities and sponsors, among others. The cultural project, initiated by the writer Bernard Comment, was organized by the Jura-24 association with the support of the Cantonal Office for Culture.
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