Humanitarian Principles. Here & Now

How can art help us understand Humanitarian Principles?

As part of a collaboration with Swiss Humanitarian Aid and in conversation with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Photo Elysée gave a carte blanche to ten artists from French-speaking Switzerland to create a new film, sharing their vision of Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality and Independence. By means of these original shorts, the artists examine the impact of the Humanitarian Principles from a fresh, local and contemporary perspective.

Travelling exhibition

Following Photo Elysée’s successful collaboration with the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the exhibition Jean Mohr. War from the Victim’s Perspective (which was presented in 59 venues in 25 countries throughout the world), Humanitarian Principles. Here & Now is a contemporary art installation produced by the Musée de l’Elysée and the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in conversation with the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Swiss Embassies throughout the world will have the chance to present Humanitarian Principles. Here & Now in their local context, with every presentation of the contemporary art installation translated into the local language and held in a venue that is open to all publics and free of charge. As such, this project represents an important opportunity to showcase the work of Swiss artists in many countries.

Artists

Rebecca Bowring,
Mark Henley,
Cyril Porchet,
Laurence Rasti,
Virginie Rebetez,
Manon Wertenbroek,
Caroline Etter,
Yann Gross,
Sarah Carp,
Mathieu Bernard-Reymond

Aknowledgments

Photo Elysée, the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ICRC wish to express their deep gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the realisation of this project. Special thanks go to the artists for their enthusiasm and commitment to this project. We would also like to extend our gratitude to all humanitarian workers around the world for putting their own lives at risk to help the people affected by natural disaster and armed conflict.

Project Conception: Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pascal Hufschmid
Project Coordinator: Hannah Pröbsting
Education Expert: Afshan Heuer

Partners

This project is the result of a partnership between the Photo Elysée and the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in conversation with the ICRC.