Politicians are ubiquitous in our society. How they present themselves depends upon the historical context as well as on the form of government and the cultural environment. Image making, campaigning, election battles, and self-presentation - along with the discrediting of opponents - form an important part of political work. The exchange between politicians and the people is a complex, unequal relationship. While the aim is to win the support of broad sectors of the population for a program, genuine exchange with the individual occurs only sporadically. This exhibition illuminates the historical roots, epochal electoral campaigns, recurring patterns of political public relations work, and the shaping of such influential figures as Lenin, Che Guevera, Arnold Schwarzenegger, or Yulia Tymoshenko. In collaboration with the Institute for Mass Communication and Media Research Zurich.
Publication accompanying the exhibition
"Poster Collection" 19, Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, ed.
Kopf an Kopf - Politikerporträts / Head to Head - Political Portraits
With an essay by Thomas Macho and contributions from Christian Brändle, Sabina Brändli, Bettina Richter, Nicolas Righetti, Ulrich Schmid, Francesco Vezzoli, and Klaus Waschik
G/E, 200 color illustrations, Lars Müller Publishers, CHF 46
Program accompanying the exhibition
Discussion at the exhibition: Wednesday, 5 November 2008, 7.30 pm
The Decision: Image and Visions of the American Presidential Candidates
Isabelle Jacobi, producer of "Echo der Zeit", SR DRS, Zürich
Jürgen Häusler, social scientist, CEO Interbrand Zintzmeyer & Lux, Zurich
Chair: Daniel Weber, editor-in-chief of "NZZ Folio", Zurich
Discussion at the exhibition: Wednesday, 14 January 2009, 7.30 pm
Vote for Me! How Images are Formed
Bastien Girod, member of the Swiss National Council, Zurich
Marcus Knill, communication consultant, Uhwiesen
Regula Stämpfli, political scientist, Brussels and Bern
Chair: Karin Salm, editor of SR DRS 2, Zurich
Guided tours
November 2008
Sun, 2.11.
2.00 pm Bettina Richter, Curator Poster Collection, Museum für Gestaltung Zürich
Wen, 5.11. 6.30 pm Christian Brändle, Director Museum für Gestaltung Zürich and Curator of the exhibition
Wen, 12.11. 6.30 pm Françoise Krattinger, Research Associate, Museum für Gestaltung Zürich
Wen, 19.11. 6.30 pm Verena Formanek, Head of Collections, Museum für Gestaltung Zürich
Wen, 26.11. 6.30 pm Angeli Sachs, Head of Exhibitions, Museum für Gestaltung Zürich
December 2008
Wen, 3.12. 6.30 pm Bettina Richter
Sun, 7.12. 2.00 pm Cynthia Gavranic, Curator, Museum für Gestaltung Zürich
Wen, 10.12. 6.30 pm Cynthia Gavranic
Wen, 17.12. 6.30 pm Angeli Sachs
January 2009
Sun, 4.1. 2.00 pm Sabrina Baumgartner, Research Assistant IPMZ - Institute for Mass Communication and Media Research Zurich
Wen, 7.1. 6.30 pm Angeli Sachs
Wen, 14.1. 6.30 pm Christian Brändle
Wen, 21.1. 6.30 pm Bettina Richter
Wen, 28.1. 6.30 pm Verena Formanek
February 2009
Sun, 1.2. 2.00 pm Sabrina Baumgartner
Wen, 4.2. 6.30 pm Christian Brändle
Wen, 11.2. 6.30 pm Verena Formanek
Wen, 18.2. 6.30 pm Françoise Krattinger
