Get Swiss or Die Trying

Get Swiss or Die Trying Get Swiss or Die Trying is a project through which I question my relationship with Swiss national identity. Having neither a passport, family ties, nor roots in Switzerland, I have never truly identified as Swiss, even though I’ve lived here my entire life. The images that make up this project reflect my attempts at reconciling with my homeland and its national identity.

These clumsy, even failed attempts offer a fresh perspective on national identity. They render the traditions, customs, figures, and monuments that every citizen is taught to admire comical and absurd, allowing us to view them in a new light. These elements have been so instrumentalized that they seem disconnected from their origins. Our symbols have become counterfeits of themselves. This raises the question: Did they ever truly exist, or were they merely constructs to unite the population, impose a model, and conceal inconvenient truths, like Nazi gold or colonial chocolate? Our majestic Alps are dirty, and William Tell is a fool. As Ben Vautier said, Switzerland doesn’t exist or at least, I don’t want it to exist.

Despite my criticisms, I remain fascinated by Swiss traditions and symbols. Instead of seeking an identity that doesn’t exist, I’ll create my own. A humorous, offbeat homage with cardboard mountains and cervelat Rolexes blending tribute with critique and reflecting Switzerland itself: beautiful yet flawed.