© Zalmaï, The Jungle “The End of Mirage”, L’Hebdo
Swiss Press Photo 17 winner
Two of the most prestigious exhibitions for photo journalism have just opened at the Château de Prangins in Vaud.
Swiss Press Photo 17
From 10 November 2017 to 4 March 2018, the Swiss National Museum at the Château de Prangins will present the best Swiss press photographs of 2016 at Swiss Press Photo 17, an annual competition first launched in 1991 to recognize the outstanding work of this profession in Switzerland. Each of the award-winning photos selected in this year's competition shed light on worldwide current events, from migrant flows to climate change, as well as some less familiar topics, such as caring for elderly drug addicts and transporting cattle by boat on Lake Zurich.
First prize this year went to Zalmaï, a former migrant from Afghanistan, for his report on the evacuation of the “Calais jungle”. In his reportage for L’Hebdo he photographed migrants as they were expelled from the Calais refugee camp in October 2016, setting off on the next stage of their journey through Europe. In his winning photo, he captures a group of migrants taking a final photo to preserve a memory not just of despair, but also of solidarity.
Come and join the co-founders for an apéritif at their launch event on 7 November!
A new website featuring news, events and articles all about Sion and the surrounding area in the Swiss Alps will be launched on Tuesday, 7 November 2017.
A launch event for media, partners and supporters will take place on the same day at À La Croix Fédérale, Rue du Grand-Pont 13, 1950, Sion. All are welcome to come for an apéritif at 10h30 followed by a presentation at 11h. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 079 5068459 to confirm your presence.
Living In Sion will cater to English speakers, of many different nationalities, who live in the area or who visit for business or tourism every year.
Co-founded by freelance writers, Catherine Nelson-Pollard and Rachel Beacher, the new site will open with an article explaining all about Sion’s ambitious bid for the Winter Olympics 2026, and an interview with two ex-pat trek leaders from Bramois, who know all the best family-friendly places. There are also features on the Friday market in Sion, hiking in the Valais and the Pierre Arnaud Arts Centre in Lens just a short drive from Sion.
© Michel Roggo
The largest aquarium-vivarium in Europe is set to open its doors in Lausanne on 21 October 2017.
Using close to 2 million litres of freshwater, the new AQUATIS center will support 20 different ecosystems, 46 aquariums/vivariums/terrariums, 100 reptiles and amphibians, 10,000 fish and 300 plant species from 5 different continents!
Part of a much bigger complex including 2 restaurants, a superior 3-star hotel, a wellness center, conference center and shop, AQUATIS belongs to a new generation of cultural and tourist destinations, and is the first of its kind in Switzerland to be dedicated entirely to ecosystems and sustainable development.
© Fernando Guerrera
As the end of September approaches, don't be surprised it you hear murmurings in the street about the arrival of two enormous giants in Geneva!
Incredible as it sounds, from 29 September to 1 October 2017, Geneva will host two over-sized female giants, traveling with the Royal de Luxe extra large street theater company! Keen to find out more, knowitall.ch went in search of the facts...
Grandma Giant and Little Giant
Of the two giants, Grandma Giant is the tallest, measuring around 7.3m high and weighing 1,787kg. She is thought to be about 85 years old and her strong, clever and malicious personality, combined with a certain gentleness, is believed to come from her part-Breton, part-Irish ancestry. She is said to speak a strange language, a mixture of Romanian, Anglo-Saxon, Arabic and Asian!
On the other hand, the Little Giant is an experienced traveler and has visited all the main cities in the world, spending time on her hobbies : gymnastics or tasting sweets. Measuring 5.5m tall and weighing 800kg, the Little Giant likes to hold children on her forearms, swinging and dancing them around in the air. She is said to be very stylish and likes to change clothes often during her travels!
BODY WORLDS - The Cycle of Life, Palexpo, 21 September 2017 - 7 January 2018
A major exhibition has opened in Geneva this week revealing the secrets of our anatomy.
Called BODY WORLDS – The Cycle of Life, the new exhibition is one in a series of exhibitions, first launched in 1995 with aim of informing the public about anatomy, physiology, and health, through the use of real human bodies. Created using an advanced procedure for preserving the human body, each of the exhibits on display has been carefully selected to reveal the inner workings of the human body and its organs, and to help us understand their evolution through time.
Over 200 human specimens, entire bodies, isolated organs and transparent sections are now on show at Palexpo until 7 January 2018. Displays include anatomical studies of the human body, in different stages from birth to death, which have been preserved using a technique called Plastination. Originally invented by the anatomist, Dr. Gunther von Hagens, in 1977, this process prevents the decay of biological tissues by replacing bodily fluids with silicone.
Healthy living
Whilst the preservation of real human bodies for use at a public exhibition certainly raises a number of ethical questions, there can be no doubt about the huge impact of the exhibition on its visitors. Whilst some are fascinated by the minute detail of the anatomical structures on display, others are struck more by the overriding message that is conveyed throughout the exhibition...the importance of looking after your body and living a healthy lifestyle; by viewing healthy and diseased organs side by side, visitors learn not only about the aesthetic functioning of their own bodies, but also the effects of known diseases or addictions such as tobacco or alcohol.
