FLIES
Most of us cheerfully hate flies. Although our familiarity with flies is only
based on five or six species, the insect order to which flies belong, Diptera,
actually represents between 15-20% of the animal species on the planet.
In this exhibition we explore the extraordinary diversity of this group of
insects that play a fundamental role in nature, particularly in the recycling
of organic matter. Many species have a significant economic impact from
agricultural, medical and veterinary perspectives. Finally, we explore the
long, often antagonistic history between man and fly.
A vast universe
Our exhibition proposes a fly-by of the vast universe of the fly. How do flies
manage to walk on the ceiling? What exactly is a tsetse fly? How do we
fight malaria? Can we use flies to hunt for truffles? All of these questions
are answered in the eleven displays of the exhibition. To understand flies
is also to see blowfly larvae decompose a cadaver, visit an art exhibition,
observe the behavior of flies on familiar faces, and to marvel at the human
ingenuity capable of inventing a diversity of traps. It is also the discovery
of a fantastic diversity of life cycles. After having seen the exhibition and
having heard the closing arguments of the prosecution and the pleas of
the defense, the visitor becomes the jury. The visitor must decide the fate
of the fly and pass a final judgment. At the end of the “Flies” exhibition,
we encourage the visitor reflect upon the relationship between man and
nature, particularly our power over the life and death of other species.
1
THE RED THREAD
B.Z.Z. Gallery
Born in 1980 in Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo, Mathieu
Rapp has managed to achieve a dual role as both scientist and
artist. A dozen of his sculptures are displayed, all of them “abuzz”
with expressions containing the word “fly”.
Choir and soloists
The sonorous buzzing of flies in flight accompanies the visitors’
first encounter with live flies. Visit a bird cage containing
thousands of flies. As a complement, the fly-inspired works of
Belgian artist Jean-Marie Gheerardijn…
Flesh eaters
The life cycle of a fly passes through a phase as a larva. Blowfly
larvae devour an animal cadaver. Where does our disgust come
from? A poem by Charles Baudelaire is recited in the background…
As a counterpoint, maggot therapy, or the use of fly larvae for
medical purposes.
2
Blood suckers
Diptera are vectors of human illnesses: malaria, river blindness,
yellow fever, elephantiasis, dengue, sleeping sickness…Walk
through a hospital room and witness the effects of these
illnesses by way of video footage. Discover the tsetse fly and the
mouthparts of blood-sucking flies.
Still life with flies
An audio-visual presentation by Pepito del Corso and Catherine
Meyer use the esthetic of the “Photomaton” (photo booth). Flies
pester the actors, thus provoking comical scenes….
Death to flies!
Man has never stopped inventing new methods to combat flies.
From fly swatters to insecticides, fly extermination has yielded
limitless possibilities.
3
Beautiful is the beast
While discovering the original works of Eugène Séguy, visitors
will be stunned by an audio-visual show by cinematographer
Yves Yersin that allows the visitor to see flies from a different
perspective.
Fly diversity
One room is dedicated to the observation of different species
of flies under a microscope. An extraordinary world when seen
from up-close...
Eye-to-eye
A series of close-up stereoscopic photographs by George
Haldimann.
4
Thirteen fly stories
Walk through the mosquito net of knowledge and discover
everything that you’ve always wanted to know about flies: flies
that hunt for truffles, aid the police, migrate, parasitize other
organisms, and more. Admire the copulatory apparatus of Swiss
crane flies drawn by Sigitas Podenas. Where science meets art...
The judgment
Become a member of the jury that must decide the fate of the
fly. After the lawyers’ pleas, you will decide whether to put the fly
to death or to spare him. The display encourages a reflection on
life and death, the usefulness of species, and the role of species
in nature, particularly that of man.
5
IN BRIEF...
EXHIBITION
NOT INCLUDED IN THE LEASE
• Surface area 400-600 m2
• The show “Beauty and the Beast” (must be recreated)
• Eleven scenographic sectors
• Stereo microscopes
• One holographic show
• Set-up of the exhibition (one person/4-5days)
• One bird cage with flies
• Disassembly of exhibition (one person/5 days)
• Fifteen video installations
• Transport of the exhibition (round-trip)
• One interactive audio-visual installation
• Insurance
INCLUDED IN THE LEASE
WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU
• Furniture and modules for the exhibition
• The layout of your exhibition hall (including electrical outlets)
• Texts (French and German)
• 20 m2 of storage space
• Films and author rights (for the duration of the exhibition)
• A technical team for set-up and disassembly (two people/5 days)
• Layout for the creation of flyers, posters, etc.
• Educational material related to the exhibition
PRICE
• 55’000 Euros for six months (with a possible reduction based on
the themes presented)
6
OUR EXHIBITIONS
TRAVEL WELL!
The itinerant exhibitions from the Museum of Natural History of Neuchâtel are characterized by
their flexibility and modularity. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information!
Some examples of our itinerant exhibitions:
Sacrée Science (“Sacred Science”)
Kulturama, Museum of Mankind, Zürich, 2013-2014
K2 1902. Partie d’échecs en Himalaya (“K2, 1902. Chess in the Himalayas”)
Alpine museum, Bern, 2014
Mouches (“Flies”)
National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg, 2006-2007
National Museum of Natural History, Paris, 2007 Natural History Museum of Basel, 2008-2009 Natural History Museum of Nantes, 2010
Parce queue (“Tails and Tales”)
Museum-Aquarium of Nancy, 2012
Science Center, Rennes, 2013-2014
CONTACT
Yannick Soller
Coordinator for Itinerant Exhibitions
Museum of Natural History
Rue des Terreaux 14
2000 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
Christophe Dufour
Curator/ Director
Museum of Natural History
Rue des Terreaux 14
2000 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
[email protected]
Tél. +41 (0)32 717 79 64
Fax +41 (0)32 717 79 69
www.museum-neuchatel.ch
[email protected]
Tél. +41 (0)32 717 79 61
Fax +41 (0)32 717 79 69
www.museum-neuchatel.ch