Zines and art books

Dear visitors to Gessnerallee, dear artists

Over the weekend of 21 and 22 November, the Gessnerallee will become a hub for art publications. Local and international independent publishers and self-published artists will be showcasing their publications at the ‘volumes art publishing days’ for two days in the main hall, the north wing and Stall6. There will also be workshops, the volumes Book Club, talks, games, interactive exhibitions and performances. Admission is free.

The fair will newly take place in a low-key atmosphere on Saturday from 12 noon to 1 pm and on Sunday from 11 am to 12 noon. The number of visitors per room will be limited to a maximum of 60 people during these time slots. Exhibitors are also asked not to proactively approach visitors. No additional events, such as workshops or panel discussions, will take place during these times. Here you can find further information.

The fair is organised by the non-profit collective and association volumes. It was founded in Zurich in 2013 and is led by Anne-Laure Franchette, Patrizia Mazzei and Gloria Wismer. Its aim is to promote and disseminate international art publications, including through the volumes archive.

Now for the weekly round-up of programme recommendations, newspaper articles, news and everything we want to share with you:

Programme recommendations of the week

‘ICH.KRIEG.DIE.KRISE – Young People Tell Their Stories’ by artasfoundation

11 November, 5.30 pm

This discussion focuses on the young people who took part in the theatre project ‘ICH.KRIEG.DIE.KRISE.’ The world premiere in May 2026 was preceded by a writing and acting workshop lasting several months, exploring the themes of war, crisis and militarisation. Drawing on their own experiences, fears, questions and visions for the future, the young people collaborated to develop a play about growing up in an era of global crises. In this discussion, they talk about their creative process and how, as young people, they grapple with war and social polarisation. What role can theatre play when feelings of powerlessness and uncertainty are on the rise? And what hopes do young people today have for the future? More information

‘Pigeons Shirt 9.99 $’ by PRICE

12 and 14 November, 8 pm on both nights

The new work by musician, visual artist and performer PRICE is a record release in the form of a performative concert. In this piece, the album cover becomes an advert, the advert a costume, the costume a stage set, and the stage set a space for live music. The audience enters a universe of desire, repetition, scent and PRICE’s new music: here there are not just songs, but also a T-shirt; not one pigeon, but many. Tickets

Newspaper

The space before ‘yes’ or ‘no’ (only in German)

For the 9th edition of our newspaper, cantonal councillor and social worker Mandy Abou Shoak has written a ‘Thoughts on Theatre’. In it, she does not merely ask whether theatre is political, or how political it should or can be. What interests her is whether theatre succeeds not only in depicting rules, but also in shaking up its own certainties and those of the audience, and in asking the audience to go along with something. Read the article

‘When the flamenco begins, everyone pauses’ (only in German)
Wu Tsang in conversation with Gessnerallee dramaturg Isabel Gatzke about the opera character Carmen, the potential of engagement, and how the collective Moved by the Motion rediscovered non-narrative forms and intimacy in ‘strike’. Read the article

Furthermore

At Gessnerallee, we are seeking a Production Manager (70–80%) to cover maternity leave from February to November 2027. Do you have experience in production management, are you familiar with the independent arts scene, and are you keen to work alongside a dedicated team and local, national and international artists? If so, we look forward to receiving your application. Application deadline: 27 November. More information

We look forward to your visit.

The Gessnerallee team