Bex et Arts, 6th edition… It has been 15 years since Bex first welcomed creators from all over the country. Initially scattered throughout the village, the exhibition has now been concentrated in one of the most beautiful sites in our region; and, for the fourth time, it is built around a theme.
After ‘Traces of the Sacred’, ‘The Sleeper of the Valley’ and “Staging”, here is ‘Babylon – a hanging garden’. A subject inspired first by the beauty of the park, but also by the times we live in, its richness promised grandeur and diversity. And indeed, visitors will discover an edition that will go down in the history of our Foundation.
The quality of the exhibition depends, first and foremost, on the work of the artists and those who define its concept. Its success requires significant organisation. At Bex et Arts, we have always prioritised hospitality: first for the sculptors, then for the public, not to mention the art professionals.
From the outset, we have been able to count on a large number of volunteers, from Bex and elsewhere. With unwavering enthusiasm, they work to give our event the image that, over the years, has become synonymous with it. Thanks to them, Bex & Arts is friendly, warm and welcoming.
We are delighted to welcome visitors from all over Switzerland. And the local people are happy to take part in this exhibition precisely because it provides such a special opportunity for people to meet and exchange ideas. Could our exhibition be a place where people who speak different languages can come together and forget the divisions caused by economic difficulties? Could it create a climate of understanding and trust which, according to the Swiss press, has disappeared? Many Swiss German artists and visitors are charmed by the site and the warm welcome; many Bellerins are delighted to welcome people from the other side of the country; there is nothing artificial about this, but rather a need to come together and recognise one another. Discovery and artistic experience are a wonderful bond between people!
What a paradox! Babylon, land of the Tower of Babel, where men began to speak all kinds of languages – punishment from a god concerned about their unity and strength – Babylon brings people together, reunites them, reconciles them in a setting where nature and art clash or merge.
Babylon, a cursed city, a vanished civilisation, becomes a symbol of open-mindedness, reunion and universality.
But don’t all places where art can flourish carry the same hope?
Aimé Desarzens, President of the Bex & Arts Foundation
Curator: Nicolas Raboud
