Surrealism to Sport: Lausanne's 2024 Cultural Offering

In 2024 Lausanne will once again showcase its rich cultural offering – a tapestry of art, history and sport. The city celebrates Surrealism's centenary at Plateforme 10, marks Fondation de l'Hermitage's 40th anniversary with exclusive exhibitions, and showcases profound artistry at the Collection de l'Art Brut. As Lausanne prepares for a year of exceptional cultural events, here are some of our cultural picks for the year ahead. 

Plateforme 10: A Century of Surrealism (March - August 2024) 

Next year Plateforme 10 celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Surrealism manifesto with a programme of exhibitions across various artistic disciplines in its arts district, encompassing fine arts, photography, and design. This is set to include:  

• ‘Le Grand Jeu’ at MCBA: An exploration of the Surrealists' fascination with games (such as tarot, dice, and games of chance), seen as means to liberate society and art. 
• ‘Libérer la photographie’ at Photo Elysée: A tribute to Man Ray, the legendary photographer associated with the Dadaists and Surrealists, focusing on his groundbreaking contributions to photography. 
• ‘Objects of Desire, Surrealism and Design 1924- today’ and ‘L’art verrier surréaliste’ at mudac: These exhibitions delve into the world of Surrealist art and design, showcasing a blend of historical and contemporary works. 

Fondation de l’Hermitage 

In 2024, the Fondation de l'Hermitage is set to commemorate its 40th anniversary with an exceptional array of exhibitions and collaborations. Two of the key highlights include:

• The grand retrospective dedicated to Nicolas de Staël (1914-1955), an influential figure in the post-war art scene. This exhibition, organised in partnership with the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris / Paris Musées, will feature around 100 works, including paintings, drawings, and sketchbooks sourced from various public and private collections across Switzerland, Europe, and internationally. This retrospective will offer a fresh perspective on de Staël's work, unveiling lesser-known aspects of his career and including prominent pieces like "Parc des Princes" (1952) alongside other significant, rarely or never before exhibited works. 
• The presentation of the Museum Langmatt's collection, predominantly consisting of Impressionist works. Gathered mainly between 1908 and 1919, this wonderful collection, usually housed at the Villa Langmatt, will be showcased at the Hermitage in its first-ever exhibition outside its permanent location. This event not only celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Foundation's inaugural exhibition, 'Impressionism in the Romandy Collections', but also marks 150 years of Impressionism, dating back to the first collective exhibition of the movement in 1874. 

Collection de l'Art Brut: Magali Herrera Exhibition (8 March - 1 September 2024) 

The Collection de l'Art Brut is dedicating a comprehensive retrospective to the work of Uruguayan creator Magalí Herrera (1914 – 1992). The exhibition, opening with a vernissage on March 7, 2024, will showcase: 

• Complete Works of Magalí Herrera: The museum's collection includes all the works of Herrera, spanning her entire creative period, offering insights into her artistic evolution. 
• Personal Archives and Correspondence: The exhibit reveals personal archives of the author and her intense correspondence with Jean Dubuffet, highlighting her significant contribution to the Art Brut movement. 
• Unique Artistic Journey: Herrera's journey as an artist is characterized by her self-taught approach to various art forms, including dance, theater, photography, and writing. Her painting, initiated around 1952, evolved into a dedicated practice by the 1960s. 
• Cosmogony of Herrera's Imagination: The exhibition showcases her ink compositions on various colored papers, revealing utopian universes created through meticulous and subtle techniques. 

 Curated by Pascale Jeanneret, the exhibition offers a deep dive into Herrera's creations, illuminated by her letters and the broader context of Art Brut. 

The Olympic Museum 

The ‘Free to Run: On the Road to the Paris 2024 Marathon’ exhibition runs at The Olympic Museum until the 3rd March 2024.

This multimedia experience delves into the rich history and cultural significance of marathon and long-distance running. This stretches from the marathon's debut at the Athens 1896 Olympics to the upcoming Paris 2024 Mass Participation Marathon, highlighting the intersection of running with personal and societal freedoms. 

Curated by Pierre Morath, a Swiss athlete, sports historian, and documentary filmmaker known for his 2016 film ‘Free to Run’, the exhibition examines the evolution of running from a niche pastime to a global movement. Visitors can immerse themselves in a trilingual (English, French, German) audiovisual presentation, complemented by large-screen projections of archival footage and contemporary images. The exhibition's layout is marked by a blue line, reminiscent of the iconic marathon route markers, guiding visitors through various thematic sections including, born to run?, trailblazers, revolution, records and running for all.  

This exhibition at The Olympic Museum not only celebrates the physical and mental fortitude inherent in marathon running but also underscores its role in championing personal liberty and communal spirit, paving the way to the Paris 2024 Marathon. 

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Editors notes

Capital of the Canton of Vaud and 4th largest city in Switzerland, Lausanne shines through in its dynamism and openness, as well as its sporting, cultural and food offering.

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