CHUZBE

The neon sign "chuzbe" illuminates the stairwell in bright green. It looks as if someone has written a thought on the wall with an oversized pen. But shouldn't it be "chuzpe"? The Yiddish word "chuzpe" refers to a human character trait. Someone who has "chuzpe" is bold, courageous, rebellious. 

With "chuzpe", you leave your comfort zone and do something you wouldn't normally do.

But why "b" instead of "p"? "Chuzpe" is a note that the artist jotted down in her notebook during a conversation. At the moment of writing, a new word was formed At the moment of writing, a new word was formed consisting of 'chuzpe' and the English verb 'to be'. The new word is no longer meant to be a fleeting attitude. With 'chuzbe', Olivia Wiederkehr calls for a lasting lifestyle.

And what does this have to do with the Haus zum Schlossgarten? Placed between the two floors of the exhibition, 'chuzbe' functions as a commentary, an inscription, a demand. Without chuzbe, there would have been no 'first Federal Parliament Building', without chuzbe there would be no Forum Schlossplatz. Chuzbe concerns us all, we all need chuzbe!

(Lena Friedli)