“Morbus Helveticus” Exhibition Explores Themes of Homesickness and Belonging at Kunsthalle Bern
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The Kunsthalle Bern is participating in the Cantonale Berne Jura, an annual exhibition showcasing art from the cantons of Bern and Jura. This year’s exhibition, titled “Morbus Helveticus,” delves into the complex and evolving concept of “home” and its historical connection to the feeling of homesickness. The exhibition opens December 13, 2025.
The Historical Roots of “Morbus Helveticus”
The term “Morbus Helveticus,” or Swiss disease, originated in the 17th century to describe the physical and psychological symptoms experienced by Swiss mercenaries serving abroad. https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/morbus-helveticus–an-exhibition-explores-the-swiss-disease-of-homesickness/79769146 Doctors at the time attributed symptoms like heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and mental confusion to a longing for one’s homeland – essentially, what we now understand as homesickness. While no longer a formal medical diagnosis, the term highlights the profound impact of displacement and the human need for belonging.
Beyond National Identity: Redefining “Home”
The exhibition challenges the customary, often nationalistic, understanding of “home” as being tied solely to a specific landscape, nation, or cultural purity. Instead, “Morbus Helveticus” proposes a broader definition, recognizing that home can be found in attachments to places – a mountain, a village, a house – as well as in connections to language, shared experiences, and the care received from others. Home is presented as something that can be lost, rebuilt, and constantly redefined through relationships and experiences.
Featured Artists and Works
The exhibition features work from a diverse group of artists exploring these themes. Confirmed artists include:
* Tania Al Farouki
* Ramsheh’s Snake
* Casanova Colon
* Shon
* carla Blanca Cornish
* abel Garden
* Finger Garance
* Christina Gähler
* Ruiz Guadalape
* Huber Margaux
* Anna Jaun
* Lorraine
* Lorena Lira
* Cassian. Scale
* Stettler’s Snake
* Stettler
Notably, Tania Al Farouki’s work, Supplication on Alphorn (2025), utilizes vinyl, wood, and limestone to explore the symbolism of the alphorn and its connection to Swiss identity and longing. https://www.kunsthallebern.ch/en/exhibitions/cantonale-berne-jura-morbus-helveticus
Exhibition Details
* Opening: December 13, 2025, at 4:00 PM
* Location: Kunsthalle Bern
* Exhibition Title: Morbus Helveticus (as part of the Cantonale Berne Jura)
A Timely Exploration of Belonging
“Morbus Helveticus” offers a poignant and timely exploration of belonging in a world marked by increasing mobility and displacement.By examining the historical roots of homesickness and its contemporary manifestations, the exhibition invites viewers to reflect on their own relationships to “home” and the complex factors that shape our sense of identity and connection. The exhibition promises to be a thought-provoking contribution to the Cantonale Berne Jura and a critically important cultural event for the region.
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