State intervention in the lives of people who failed to conform to social standards was once common practice in Switzerland. Moreover, these enforced welfare measures were not restricted to adults; they also affected hundreds of thousands of children and teenagers up to the 1980s. They were taken from their parents or other carers and placed in institutions or with foster families. Many of them suffered violence and abuse, were forced to work hard and received inadequate schooling. The video installation shows people who underwent this treatment telling their personal stories, what it was like for them, how it affects them still and why they are sharing their experiences today.

The format

Sometimes objects fail to tell the full story behind formative developments in Switzerland’s recent past. That’s why the “Experiences of Switzerland” format centres on contemporary witnesses. Their fate and experiences give visitors a diverse picture of Swiss contemporary history. The theme changes annually. The format does not involve objects, opting instead for a large-format and immersive projection relaying sound through headphones as well as a station with additional information on the latest research results and the cultural-historical context of the subject.