Expo.02 counts down

The events during the five months of Expo consist of an eclectic mix of musical concerts, plays, folklore, pantomime and films, with around 1,800 shows planned.

The organisers of the exhibition, which is spread over four towns, say they are confident of catering for every kind of taste - however alternative – even at the risk of forgoing economic success.

“It’s a great opportunity for Switzerland to discover its artists and it’s our job to seek out unknown or budding talents,” Daniel Rossellat, events director for Expo, told swissinfo. “What’s important is helping artists and leaving our visitors with lasting memories.

“Of course, it’s a lot less comfortable not to depend solely on top acts, but we think Expo should take some risks,” Rossellat continued. “For me, the priority is popular rather than financial success.”

Foreign acts such as Cuban band Compay Segundo and the Arab pop sensation Khaled will also be making an appearance alongside Swiss bands and orchestras, playing anything from choral to alphorn music.

Having a ball

A key element of Expo.02 is humour, with numerous mime and comedy acts commissioned to draw in Swiss and foreign visitors.

“Laughter is one of the best ways to make people feel emotions – and of course, we do want to show that the Swiss do have a sense of humour,” says Anne-Dominique Chevalley, Expo’s head of comedy.

“A lot of the humour will rely on music and mime, so there won’t be any language barriers,” Chevalley adds.

Stumbling in the dark

One of the most unusual events staged by Expo is “Blindekuh” (“blind cow”), which will involve visitors being led in darkness by blind people and given a “sound and touch” tour of the space around them.

“It’ll be a very intense experience for people because their whole perception of moving and feeling will completely different,” says the event’s organiser, Jürg Spielmann, who is also blind.

“People will also develop an entirely different rapport with blind people, and see them as confident, competent people moving about freely in the dark, rather than as the restricted, handicapped beings they see on the streets,” he adds.

Visitors will to Blindekuh will also be able to eat in an darkened restaurant, where food will be served by blind waiters – and while this may sound like a recipe for disaster, an eponymous restaurant in Zürich – also called “Blindekuh” - has already put the formula to the test, with great commercial success, says Spielmann.

Expo.02 will be staged in the towns of Biel, Murten, Neuchâtel and Yverdon-les-Bains, on floating, mobile exhibition sites called arteplages. The exhibition runs from May 15 to October 20, 2002.

by Vanessa Mock