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Museum Rietberg's 'A Kind of Paradise' Reconfigures Colonial-Era Photography Through Contemporary Art

exhibition · 2026-06-05

The Museum Rietberg in Zurich is showcasing 'A Kind of Paradise. Counter-Narratives to Colonial-Era Photography' until September 6, 2026. Curated by Nanina Guyer, this exhibition includes the works of twenty contemporary artists from around the globe, who reinterpret colonial photography to question prevailing stereotypes. The display is organized into four thematic sections: mutations, confrontation, care, and 'In the Photo Fantastic.' Featured artists include Sammy Baloji, Raphaël Barontini, and Dinh Q. Lê. Lê's 2014 piece, 'Crossing the Farther Shore,' combines archival images with excerpts from Nguyễn Du's 'Truyện Kiều,' delving into themes of memory and displacement. Born in 1968 in Hà Tiên, South Vietnam, Lê was a refugee who returned to Vietnam in the 1990s, developing a unique approach to weaving photographs.

Key facts

  • Exhibition 'A Kind of Paradise. Counter-Narratives to Colonial-Era Photography' at Museum Rietberg, Zurich
  • Runs until September 6, 2026
  • Curated by Nanina Guyer
  • Features 20 international contemporary artists
  • Divided into four thematic sections: mutations, confrontation, care, and 'In the Photo Fantastic'
  • Artists include Sammy Baloji, Raphaël Barontini, Mary Enoch Elizabeth Baxter, Daniel Boyd, Andrea Chung, Omar Victor Diop, Sasha Huber, Yuki Kihara, Cédric Kouamé, Dinh Q. Lê, Dimakatso Mathopa, Tuli Mekondjo, Tshepiso Moropa, Aline Motta, Frida Orupabo, Rosana Paulino, David Shongo, Lee Shulman, Zenaéca Singh, Wendy Red Star
  • Dinh Q. Lê's installation 'Crossing the Farther Shore' (2014) is a highlight
  • Dinh Q. Lê was born in 1968 in Hà Tiên, South Vietnam, and died in 2024

Entities

Artists

Institutions

Locations

  • Zurich
  • Switzerland
  • Hà Tiên
  • Vietnam
  • United States

Sources

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