The “Greenland collection” comprises more than 150 objects that have been preserved by the museum for over a century. They were gathered together by the members of two Swiss Greenland expeditions, the first in 1909 and the second in 1912/13. As extensive as the collection is, so too are the gaps in what we know about it: the Greenlandic names for the objects were rarely ever recorded, nor was any information about the previous owners, makers or artists, who therefore remain unknown today. The indigenous knowledge linked to the objects was only sought and documented if it was of immediate benefit to the expedition, for instance for dog sledding or kayaking.

The exhibition “Greenland ahoy! Perspectives on a colonial legacy” posits that the collection tells us more about the Swiss collectors, the needs of the expedition and the museum curator Rudolf Zeller than it does about what it was actually supposed to represent: Greenland itself.

This leaves us with many blanks which can be filled in by looking at the objects and the collection together with the people for whom they have a completely different significance than they do for us. In Aka Hansen and Qupanuk Olsen, we have invited two experts who know all about the historical and contemporary significance of indigenous Greenlandic artefacts. They are committed to ensuring that the cultural heritage of the Kalaallit people finds its place in the 21st century and is preserved for future generations.

Please note that this event will be held in English and simultaneously translated into German in writing.

An evening at the museum – Greenland
In conversation with experts and with audience participation, this series of events seeks to develop new and multi-faceted perspectives on the colonial legacy of the Greenland collection. The subject matter discussed, and the insight gained from the events will be fed back into the exhibition “Greenland ahoy! Perspectives on a colonial legacy”. As a consequence, it will be in a constant state of flux and will allow us to gather a new understanding and reappraise how Switzerland views Greenland today.

The exhibition “Greenland ahoy! Perspectives on a colonial legacy” will open its doors from 5 pm. (Admission is included in the ticket price.)
The bar will be open from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm.

Admission fee: CHF 16/person
Friends of the Museum, students, OAP/disabled, holders of a KulturLegi and persons with refugee status (N, S and F permits) can avail of a 50% discount. Raiffeisen, Swiss Museum Pass, Kultur-GA, “Bern Museum Card 24h”, “Bern Museum Card 48h” and “Swiss Travel Pass” will not be valid.

Sign up

You can sign up for the event here. Drop-in guests are also welcome, as long as there's space.

Greenland x Greenland 
With your ticket, you can also explore the exhibition “Greenland. Everything will change” at the ALPS Swiss Alpine Museum for free!