Kunsthaus Zürich (Museum of Fine Art) courtesy of Zürich Tourismus

Dadaism – Art Movement Founded in Zürich
For centuries, Zürich has served as the departure point, home base and stopping-off place for avant-garde writers and artists. The Dada art movement was founded in 1916 in the Ca-baret Voltaire, on Spiegelgasse, as a “protest against the madness of the times”. This revolu-tionary movement was established by émigrés, who as political refugees had fled from the foreboding harbingers of the impending First World War to Zürich. Here they attempted by non-violent artistic means to implement their ideas of a world of innovative unrest. Artists, musicians, dancers and literati met in the Cabaret Voltaire and called the entire existing art into question. The reopening of the Cabaret Voltaire in Zürich’s Old Town in October 2004 marked the beginning of a brand new Dada era. Nowadays, the Dadahaus, with its exhibi-tions, events and bar, as well as its small specialized lending library, is open to the public; in this vibrant cultural center, bridges are built between Dada and modern social and cultural trends. Dada enthusiasts will particularly enjoy a stay at the Hotel Limmatblick, where all of the rooms are individually decorated in Dada style.

Haus Konstruktiv courtesy of Zürich Tourismus

A Unique Concentration of Art Galleries
Zürich is one of the world’s leading centers to enjoy a flourishing art trade; experts rank Zürich among the top ten gallery cities. A typical feature of Zürich is its high concentration of art galleries; around Rämistrasse, the galleries are just a few minutes’ walk apart, while in the former grounds of the Löwenbräu brewery they stand side by side. In the Aussersihl quarter, the gallery scene is experiencing a veritable boom, while Zürich’s famous Bahnhof-strasse is becoming increasingly more artistic, thanks to exhibitions by the Pels-Leusden or Gmurzynska galleries, the latter establishment at Paradeplatz with a focus on Russian avant-garde.

The Mai 36 art gallery is devoted to artists who have their origins in Pop, Minimal and Con-ceptual Art, including Franz Ackermann, John Baldessari and Rita McBride. In the gallery of art pioneer Bruno Bischofberger, art lovers will find works by such leading artists as Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Peter Kilchmann, with his exciting portfolio of avant-garde works, is widely regarded as the star among Zürich’s young gallery owners. While Bob Van Orsouw promotes up-and-coming artists, Hauser & Wirth presents such top names as Pipi-lotti Rist and Paul McCarthy. Eva Presenhuber represents artists such as Ugo Rondinone and Urs Fischer – in short, international shooting stars and young Swiss talent. More than 100 galleries, as well as branches of the auction houses, Christies and Sotheby’s, are to be found in Zürich. Moreover, as these galleries are conveniently distributed throughout the city and are also quickly and easily reached by public transport, art connoisseurs are able to visit several establishments on one trip.

More than 50 Museums
Zürich is home to over 50 museums, some 14 of which are devoted to art. Top tips include the Swiss National Museum, the Kunsthaus Zürich, the Rietberg Museum and the Giacometti or “Blüemli” Hall.