Wir schämen uns bis auf die Haut
In 2010, a narrow majority (52%) of the Swiss electorate approved the deportation initiative. The deportation initiative wrote great legal uncertainty into the Swiss constitution for non-Swiss citizens: Having obtained three offences, they lose their residence status and must be deported – regardless of the triviality of the offence. For example, stealing chewing gum or fare evasion are sufficient grounds for an offence, thus deportation.
This initiative is centred in the far-right corner and the party behind it has been working with fear campaigns and xenophobia as their method of choice for years.
Immediately after the election results had been announced, Irene Müller and tobibienz took their anger, incomprehension and shame to the streets, directly in front of the Federal Palace, the Swiss parliament. They stripped naked, painted their bodies in the national colours and wrote “Wir schämen uns bis auf die Haut” (“We are deeply ashamed”) and “We are Switzerland” on their bodies. In doing so, they sent a signal: We will not leave the sovereignty of interpretation to the right-wing populists. It is also a signal to all those affected by the law: Not all of Switzerland thinks this way!
Media links:
Der Bund
Neue Dringlichkeit
This initiative is centred in the far-right corner and the party behind it has been working with fear campaigns and xenophobia as their method of choice for years.
Immediately after the election results had been announced, Irene Müller and tobibienz took their anger, incomprehension and shame to the streets, directly in front of the Federal Palace, the Swiss parliament. They stripped naked, painted their bodies in the national colours and wrote “Wir schämen uns bis auf die Haut” (“We are deeply ashamed”) and “We are Switzerland” on their bodies. In doing so, they sent a signal: We will not leave the sovereignty of interpretation to the right-wing populists. It is also a signal to all those affected by the law: Not all of Switzerland thinks this way!
Media links:
Der Bund
Neue Dringlichkeit
Title: “Wir schämen uns bis auf die Haut” – translates to “We are deeply ashamed”
By: Irène Müller & tobibienz
Form: Political performance, media art
Duration: 2h
Venue: Front yard of the Swiss Parliament
Date: 13.12.2010
credits:
work by Irène Müller & tobibienz
performance: Irène Müller & tobibienz
Photography: Lisa Bienz
