Conversations with Curators

Jonathan David Katz on The First Homosexuals at Kunstmuseum in Basel

The First Homosexuals - The Birth of New Identities 1869–1939 (March 7–August 2, 2026, Kunstmuseum Basel | Neubau) The exhibition The First Homosexuals: The Birth of New Identities 1869–1939 at the Kunstmuseum Basel turns the spotlight on the early visibility of same-sex desire and gender diversity in the arts. Through around eighty paintings, works on paper, sculptures, and photographs, it illuminates how new visions of sexuality, gender, and identity took shape from 1869, the year the word "homosexual" first appeared in print. The multifaceted presentation frames perspectives on queer communities, intimate portraits, bold life choices, coded desires, and colonial entanglements. The exhibition was first organized by Alphawood Exhibitions at Wrightwood 659, Chicago, where it was researched and curated by Jonathan D. Katz, curator, and Johnny Willis, associate curator. It was adapted for the Kunstmuseum Basel in collaboration with the curators Rahel Müller and Len Schaller. The term "homosexual" first came into use in the German-speaking world in 1869 and underwent a substantial shift over the following decades. The debate over what the word designated ranged from a universal capacity for same-sex desire to the conception of a "third sex." Stories from Museums of Switzerland: Podcast Interview Series with Museum Curators Our podcast series, Conversations with Curators, brings listeners a collection of audio stories that go beyond travel to explore the soul of Switzerland as an art capital. In this series, we focus on in-depth interviews with museum curators across the country. Hear firsthand about their institutions, the histories behind their collections, and the unique perspectives they bring to preserving Swiss culture. From intimate conversations about curatorial choices to behind-the-scenes insights into exhibitions, every episode captures the voices shaping Switzerland's cultural landscape. Alongside museums, we also feature stories about Swiss cities, iconic brands, and the rich traditions that make the country unique. In the first season, "Conversations with Curators," celebrates the legacy of Basel's museums. Nestled within just 42 square kilometers, Basel is home to nearly 40 museums—making it a true city of art and culture. In this series, we sit down with curators from across the museums of the city to explore the stories behind the collections, the ideas shaping exhibitions, and the passion that keeps Basel's museums alive. From world-renowned institutions to hidden gems, from the largest to the smallest, join us as we uncover the voices behind the art and heritage that make Basel a museum capital of not just Switzerland, but Europe. Discover Switzerland through the eyes of those who safeguard its heritage—one interview at a time. Image Credits: Titel: Retrato de un anticuario o Retrato de Chucho Reyes y autorretrato | Künstler:in & Beteiligte: Roberto Montenegro | Entstehungszeit: 1926 | Creditline: Colección Pérez Simón Follow Conversation With Curators, wherever you get your podcasts: * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/ch/podcast/conversations-with-curators/id1853669482?l=en-GB] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1Y3yz7oFEwe9TcCInFg2Xj?si=88a2135999c348be] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGx9u9M80y-ooKiIpGoA37EnsfSIB-oY_] * Website [https://www.theglocalmedia.com/podcast]

Jewish Museum Of Switzerland With Nadia Guth Biasini and Naomi Lubrich

In this edition of Conversation With Curators, we speak with Nadia Guth Biasini, a prominent Swiss patron of the arts and expert in Jewish history. She is the President of the Association for the Jewish Museum of Switzerland in Basel. Nadia is the daughter of the museum's founder, Katia Guth-Dreyfus, and has played a pivotal role in the museum's recent relocation and expansion to a new, larger site in late 2025. In this episode, we have a second guest too. We also speak with Dr. Naomi Lubrich, director of the Jewish Museum of Switzerland. Born in Toronto in 1976, Dr. Lubrich studied literature and art history in New York and Berlin, specializing in Jewish studies and costume history. An author of multiple books like 'A study on Swiss war secrets', she has also worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Jewish Museum Berlin. This episode celebrates the 100th anniversary of Dr. Katia Guth-Dreyfus, who was born in 1926. She was a pioneer in preserving Jewish material culture and was the first woman to deliver an official speech in the Basel Synagogue following its renovation in the 1980s. The anniversary celebrations will take place in April 2026. Follow Conversation With Curators, wherever you get your podcasts: • Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/ch/podcast/conversations-with-curators/id1853669482?l=en-GB] • Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1Y3yz7oFEwe9TcCInFg2Xj?si=88a2135999c348be] • YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGx9u9M80y-ooKiIpGoA37EnsfSIB-oY_] • Website [https://www.theglocalmedia.com/podcast] Stories from Museums of Switzerland: Podcast Interview Series with Museum Curators Our podcast series, Conversations with Curators, brings listeners a collection of audio stories that go beyond travel to explore the soul of Switzerland as an art capital. In this series, we focus on in-depth interviews with museum curators across the country. Hear firsthand about their institutions, the histories behind their collections, and the unique perspectives they bring to preserving Swiss culture. From intimate conversations about curatorial choices to behind-the-scenes insights into exhibitions, every episode captures the voices shaping Switzerland's cultural landscape. Alongside museums, we also feature stories about Swiss cities, iconic brands, and the rich traditions that make the country unique. In the first season, "Conversations with Curators," celebrates the legacy of Basel's museums. Nestled within just 42 square kilometers, Basel is home to nearly 40 museums—making it a true city of art and culture. In this series, we sit down with curators from across the museums of the city to explore the stories behind the collections, the ideas shaping exhibitions, and the passion that keeps Basel's museums alive. From world-renowned institutions to hidden gems, from the largest to the smallest, join us as we uncover the voices behind the art and heritage that make Basel a museum capital of not just Switzerland, but Europe. Discover Switzerland through the eyes of those who safeguard its heritage—one interview at a time.

Tobias Brenk On Kaserne In Switzerland

In this special bonus episode of Conversation With Curators, we speak with Tobias Brenk, Artistic Director of Kaserne, Basel one of Switzerland's most prominent centers for contemporary performing arts, and popular music. Tobias officially took over the leadership for the 2023/2024 season and recently had his contract extended through June 30, 2030. We delve into Kaserne's rich history, tracing its transformation from a monastery to a military barracks and eventually to a cultural center. We also discuss its picturesque riverside setting and how Tobias's return to lead the institution builds upon decades of his involvement. Tobias shares his artistic journey so far, the residencies at Kaserne, and examines the complex Swiss colonial-economic entanglements. He explains Kaserne's approach to intercontinental work through extended residencies that foster connections between visiting artists and the local Lab Kaserne community. We highlight projects by artists from Chile and Mozambique that have gained international recognition. And explore what makes Kaserne such a pivotal hub for artists and innovators. Tobias envisions Kaserne as a broader cultural hub, collaborating with partners on-site, cultivating a young, politically engaged audience, reducing language barriers, and hosting thought-provoking debates. He reflects on the political significance of art, the importance of open discussions, and expresses his hope that Kaserne will remain a place of both "home and experiment." Follow Conversation With Curators, wherever you get your podcasts: * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/ch/podcast/conversations-with-curators/id1853669482?l=en-GB] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1Y3yz7oFEwe9TcCInFg2Xj?si=88a2135999c348be] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGx9u9M80y-ooKiIpGoA37EnsfSIB-oY_] * Website [https://www.theglocalmedia.com/podcast] Our podcast series, Conversations with Curators, brings listeners a collection of audio stories that go beyond travel to explore the soul of Switzerland as an art capital. In this series, we focus on in-depth interviews with museum curators across the country. Hear firsthand about their institutions, the histories behind their collections, and the unique perspectives they bring to preserving Swiss culture. From intimate conversations about curatorial choices to behind-the-scenes insights into exhibitions, every episode captures the voices shaping Switzerland's cultural landscape. Alongside museums, we also feature stories about Swiss cities, iconic brands, and the rich traditions that make the country unique. In the first season, "Conversations with Curators," celebrates the legacy of Basel's Art and Culture. Nestled within just 42 square kilometers, Basel is home to nearly 40 museums and many inistitutions for Art and Culture, making it a true city of art and culture. In this series, we sit down with curators from across the museums of the city to explore the stories behind the collections, the ideas shaping exhibitions, and the passion that keeps Basel's museums alive. From world-renowned institutions to hidden gems, from the largest to the smallest, join us as we uncover the voices behind the art and heritage that make Basel a museum capital of not just Switzerland, but Europe. Discover Switzerland through the eyes of those who safeguard its heritage, one interview at a time.

Alex Klein on Carl Cheng's Nature Never Loses at Museum Tinguely

Curating Carl Cheng: Nature Never Loses with Alex Klein at Museum Tinguely, Switzerland Alex Klein, Deborah Dupré Head Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs, The Contemporary Austin; discusses her curatorial background that spans over two decades and how her training as an artist and art historian shaped her five-year research into Carl Cheng's previously undocumented archive for the traveling exhibition "Nature Never Loses." Klein describes first encountering Cheng through experimental photography, then discovering broader works like the erosion machines, leading to a grant-funded, COVID-era process of weekly archive reviews with Cheng. She explains Cheng's philosophy that "nature never loses," his critiques of capitalism, branding, and authorship (including the John Doe Co alter ego), and the exhibition's non-chronological, six-section structure across multiple venues, including the Museum Tinguely in Basel through May 2026. Key works discussed include Anthropocene Landscapes which are made up of circuit boards, the sand rake installation, erosion machines, molded plastic photographs, the Avocado Laboratory, and public art tools like Walk On L.A.; Klein also outlines the curator's advocacy, logistics, and restoration needs. Mentioned in the show: * Carl Cheng Nature Never Loses [https://www.tinguely.ch/en/exhibitions/exhibitions/2025/carl-cheng.html] * The Contemporary Austin [https://thecontemporaryaustin.org] * About Alex Klein [https://thecontemporaryaustin.org/alex-klein-teiger-foundation/] Stories from Museums of Switzerland: Podcast Interview Series with Museum Curators Our podcast series, Conversations with Curators, brings listeners a collection of audio stories that go beyond travel to explore the soul of Switzerland as an art capital. In this series, we focus on in-depth interviews with museum curators across the country. Hear firsthand about their institutions, the histories behind their collections, and the unique perspectives they bring to preserving Swiss culture. From intimate conversations about curatorial choices to behind-the-scenes insights into exhibitions, every episode captures the voices shaping Switzerland's cultural landscape. Alongside museums, we also feature stories about Swiss cities, iconic brands, and the rich traditions that make the country unique. In the first season, "Conversations with Curators," celebrates the legacy of Basel's museums. Nestled within just 42 square kilometers, Basel is home to nearly 40 museums—making it a true city of art and culture. In this series, we sit down with curators from across the museums of the city to explore the stories behind the collections, the ideas shaping exhibitions, and the passion that keeps Basel's museums alive. From world-renowned institutions to hidden gems, from the largest to the smallest, join us as we uncover the voices behind the art and heritage that make Basel a museum capital of not just Switzerland, but Europe. Discover Switzerland through the eyes of those who safeguard its heritage—one interview at a time. Cover Image: Carl Cheng, Documentation of 'Santa Monica Art Tool' and its installation 'Walk on LA', Santa Monica State Beach, 1988. Courtesy Carl Cheng

Ulf Küster on Paul Cezanne at Fondation Beyeler Museum

In this episode of 'Conversations with Curators,' host Ajita engages with Dr. Ulf Küster, the Senior Curator at Switzerland's renowned Fondation Beyeler. The discussion centers around the first-ever solo exhibition dedicated to Paul Cézanne at the Fondation, exploring the thematic distribution, architectural allure, and curatorial journey involved in setting up this exhibit. Featuring approximately 80 works, including 58 oil paintings and 21 watercolors, sourced from prestigious collections worldwide, the exhibition delves into the nuances of Cézanne's final and most impactful phase. You gain insights into Cézanne's innovative techniques, such as his unique approach to 'still lives' and his use of unfinished canvases to involve viewers actively. Dr. Küster reflects on Cézanne's influence on modern art and how his revolutionary approach continues to inspire contemporary artists. The episode concludes with details about the interactive watercolor studio and a short film on Cézanne's life and art. Stories from Museums of Switzerland: Podcast Interview Series with Museum Curators Our podcast series, Conversations with Curators, brings listeners a collection of audio stories that go beyond travel to explore the soul of Switzerland as an art capital. In this series, we focus on in-depth interviews with museum curators across the country. Hear firsthand about their institutions, the histories behind their collections, and the unique perspectives they bring to preserving Swiss culture. From intimate conversations about curatorial choices to behind-the-scenes insights into exhibitions, every episode captures the voices shaping Switzerland's cultural landscape. Alongside museums, we also feature stories about Swiss cities, iconic brands, and the rich traditions that make the country unique. In the first season, "Conversations with Curators," celebrates the legacy of Basel's museums. Nestled within just 42 square kilometers, Basel is home to nearly 40 museums—making it a true city of art and culture. In this series, we sit down with curators from across the museums of the city to explore the stories behind the collections, the ideas shaping exhibitions, and the passion that keeps Basel's museums alive. From world-renowned institutions to hidden gems, from the largest to the smallest, join us as we uncover the voices behind the art and heritage that make Basel a museum capital of not just Switzerland, but Europe. Discover Switzerland through the eyes of those who safeguard its heritage—one interview at a time. Episode Artwork Copyright: Paul Cezanne, La Montagne Sainte-Victoire Vue Des Lauves (Montagne Sainte-Victoire as seen from Les Lauves, 1904/05. Oil on canvas, 63.8 x 81.6 cm, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri, purchase William Rockhill Nelson Trust. Image courtesy of Nelson-Atkins Digital Production & Preservation