Donny and Roman at the Expo.02
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It was a sunny weekend on 17 August, due to the projected good weather, we decided to visit the other 2 Arteplages. Although the idea came out from Reto and Fredi, another gay couple. Since it would be rather stupid to travel back and fro from the arteplage to Z�rich, cheap lodging (camping) is available near the Expo. After a cold night at Gampelen, we visited our first stop:
Arteplage Biel. Come to think of it, we can call this an Expo-Gay event... |
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After getting some tips from one of the expo-guides, we were told to visit
Happy End first. We are also directed to visit the other exhibition located at the far end of the arteplage, that`s where there is little or no queue.
The picture above is one of the room in Happy End. Visitors are encouraged to pull the different strings after reading a short text. The string with the help of a pulley will put one object down from the ceiling. The object is more or less there to help the visitors recover some of their childhood that brings back happiness. An interesting idea. |
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As we moved through the exhibition, we saw that there was some boxes of porceline plates (made in China). One of the crew then explained that we are to write something that frustrate, annoyed, or upsetting ourself on one of the plate and throw it into a special room. Its sort of sybolising expressing our anger out and smashing the plates into pieces, so that we can get that upsetting event out of our mind and stay "Happy".
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Problems, The Human experiences - in 50 languages.
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In this part of the exhition, there are several actual expressway SOS machine around. Its all real except that you can`t request for help but you get to listen to all the different problems that human experiences. The SOS machines are labelled with the different problems, twisting on the knob and you hear people singing or just whining the related problems. Can`t help laughing with this part of the exhibition, Oh look, poor Roman and his weight problems. <grins>
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| At the end of this exhibition, what can be more fun than awaking some of the visitors` memories? The simple childhood`s happiness... A special slide for adults. |
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Next stop... Experiencing Frontiers. A special exhibition using the theme "Barriers". Barriers, Are they there either for real or are just made up in your head? This exhibition need a lot of time and thinking to the different exposure. There are several "taboo" themes for example: transexuals, cloning, handicaps, etc. Where are the actual barriers for one to experience life? |
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The actual exhibition is above all these poles, reminding us once again, are these poles barriers to you? can you squeeze through all these "barriers" or would you rather take a turn and take the easy way out?
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The symbolic feature of Arteplage Biel are these silver towers, almost of most prominent "statement" for Expo02.
There are 3 towers but the inner areas are all different. |
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| The symbolic feature of Biel Arteplage from the other side of the long bridge. |
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| The Expo-Gay Team from left to right: Roman, Donny, Fredi, Reto |
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| On the bridge connecting the end to the front. Windy but a wholesome scenery! |
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| We wanted to try out the special Children Sushi-train that made "news" to all the visitors, but of course, its only for "real" children, not "us". <hmpf> On the right we see a band playing with switzerland tradition instruments mix with modern instruments, very interesting and fresh feeling towards folk music. |
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What a disappointment for this exhibition! Strangers in Paradise. It was "rumour" to be so good but after queuing (only for this exhibition) for about 20 minutes, all that excites us were the Shopping Trolley. Its understandable because this exhibition is sponsored by Migros the famous switzerland supermarket chain. The idea with the shopping trolley is funny and very clever, but the whole exhibition seems to be lacking in content or relevance to the shopping trolley or the sponsor. It described several things from the ever changing Switzerland`s culture to twisted images. Weird and confusing at times but as the exhibitors puts it: "If you are confused by all the contradictions, don�t worry. Laughter and a sense of humour will triumph in the end. As they do in life. As they do in paradise." |
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For the conclusion exhibition, which was actually meant to be the first exhibition, we visited after a long tiring day the
Nouvelle DestiNation.
Looks like our strategy of starting in the middle and move our way towards the end and last the front pays off. No queues! :-) It was such a pain for the visitors because precious time are wasted waiting in a queue. Now the arteplage have a nickname as "Warte-plage", meaining Waiting-plage. Without much queuing, the whole experiences is definetly more fun... In Nouvelle DestiNation, the theme is about the switzerland unique political climate, laws are passed by the people. Government are just as facilitators. Total control from the public, here the question of whether a country really need a ruling goverment is put forward to the visitor`s thinking. The technical equipment used is rather special because the whole area is decorated into different sports arena. Moving from one sport to another, give the visitors different theme on how goverment plays their role in the country. |
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| Nope, that is not photomontage or usage of any special effects. The sky is simply blue . A perfect day to visit the Expo! |