HEAD at the Osaka World Expo: highlights in images

HEAD at the Osaka World Expo
© Présence Suisse

HEAD at the Osaka World Expo: highlights in images

May 2025

HEAD – Genève has been selected to represent Switzerland on the occasion of the Swiss Pavilion’s National Day at Expo 2025 in Osaka. An official ceremony took place on 22 April 2025, attended by Mr Ignazio Cassis, Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs; Mr Takuma Miyaji, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan; Mr Alexandre Edelmann, Ambassador and Head of Presence Switzerland; Ms Anne Hiltpold, State Councillor in charge of the Department of Public Instruction; Ms Lada Umstatter, Director of HEAD – Genève; as well as official delegations from Switzerland and Japan.

On this occasion, HEAD – Genève presented Je m’appelle Heidi, My name is Heidi, 私はハイジです, an immersive performance blending fashion, jewellery, and cinema, reinterpreting the Swiss icon Heidi. The staging, entrusted to Metilde Weyergans and Samuel Hercule Cordonnerie, was based on a research-creation project led by Anita Hugi.

This project was made possible thanks to the support of Presence Switzerland, the Swiss Pavilion, and all those involved — in particular Alexandre Edelmann, Manuel Salchli, Katja Jenni-Szaloky, Célia Arribas, Béatrice Bleuler, Lorenzo Pagnamenta, Michaela Malenchini, and Melicia Geneux. HEAD – Genève warmly thanks them for their dedication.

Sincere thanks as well to the artistic committee for their dedication:
Joanna Haefeli, project lead; Anita Hugi; Lutz Huelle; David Roux-Fouillet; Victor Prieux; and Douglas Edric Stanley.

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