Swiss art, ballet in Damascus
Syria-Switzerland, Culture, 10/24/2001

The exhibition on traditional art in Switzerland was opened on October 23rd at the Damascus National Museum. Organized by the Swiss embassy in Damascus, the exhibition will be seen until November 13th.

Highlighting this remarkable cultural event and in a statement to Arabic News, Switzerland ambassador in Damascus Robert Mayor said: " I am very happy that Switzerland can present this exhibition in Damascus," noting that it was also held in Aleppo last year and witnessed a great turnout.

The Minister explained that this exhibition shows the creativity of the people who live in the mountains and the rural areas in the Switzerland. People who have long tradition of producing textiles curving works and handicrafts during the long nights in winter mainly in Berne, Valise and in all the mountainous areas of the country.

The ambassador added that this is a modest exhibition in comparison with the fantastic exhibition on the Syrian treasure which was held in Basle last year.

On activities parallel to the exhibition Ambassador Mayor added that on October 27 and 28 there will be a presentation of a modern Swiss ballet troupe at the Damascus March 8 theater hall.

He expressed hope that:" we shall continue following up other events in order to have our peoples in Syria and Switzerland closer together." In contrast to porcelain, which has only produced in a few Swiss towns, the tradition of using clay to make objects for daily use is one which dates back several centuries in almost all parts of the country. The Canton of Berne in particular was the birthplace of a flourishing tradition of ceramics. There are two distinctive trends, depending on the region; Langau and Hemberg.

Today the professional schools of ceramics in Berne, Geneva and Montreux play an important role in influencing the development of ceramic art in Switzerland. This French- speaking part of the country in particular produces high quality pieces which show a marked degree of originality.

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