1984-2024 : 40 ans de festival en images, un certain regard (EN)

Welcome ! In 2024, far° celebrates its 40th anniversary. This exhibition shows the history of the festival from 1984 to the present day. The photos can be found on rue Juste-Olivier, in the Cour des Marchandises, in the hall of the Salle Communale and at the Usine à Gaz. There are 25 of them. Before being called “far° festival et fabrique des arts vivants”, the festival was called “Théâtres d’Été”. Here are the themes covered in these photos :

• In situ (outdoors) performances 
  Artists at far° often present shows outdoors, in the city or in nature. The photos show moments when art meets the public in places where we’re not used to seeing art in Nyon and the region.
• Emerging artists 
  far° festival is known for welcoming young artists at the start of their careers. They leave their mark on the festival with their original creations. Some of these artists are now well known in Switzerland and other countries.
• Festival conviviality
  The photos show the festival’s warm, inclusive atmosphere. Everyone is welcome at far°. Since 2018, the festival has taken place in August in the Cour des Marchandises. Previously, it was held at the Usine à Gaz. During the festival, artistic teams and audiences share festive moments. It’s a time for encounters and exchanges.

The photos in the exhibition were chosen for their beauty and the personal vision of the photographers: Manon Burnier, Arya Dil, Erick Julia, Nicolas Lieber, Eddy Mottaz, Michel Perret, Alain Rouèche.

Thanks to everyone who made this project possible.
Enjoy your visit!

Since 1984, far° has been offering live arts performances. Live art is when artists stand in front of an audience. Examples include dance, theater, circus, music and performance. These shows can be performed indoors or outdoors. Performances that take place outdoors are called in situ. To create these shows, artists gather information about the location. They are sensitive to local life. For example, they go out to meet local residents to get a feel for the place. There’s a strong link between the artist, the work and the place. Every year, far° organizes shows in various locations around Nyon.

The photograph above shows the Famille Larue performing on a platform at Nyon station. There used to be theater workshops at far°. Les Larues is the troupe created during these workshops.

In the following photos, you’ll discover other site-specific performances that took place at far°: ballroom dancing through binoculars for a project by Nicole Seiler; architecture in the Jura, by the Compagnie des Fondateurs; a circus stroll through the streets of Nyon by the Compagnie Pieds Perchés; a tall wooden tower by Georg Traber that reaches for the sky.

Le far° wants the performing arts to be more sustainable for the ecology, humans and society. far° festival is like a laboratory. It tests new ideas in a changing world. Today, we urgently need to create new stories and rethink the way we live.

In 1994, Belgian sculptor Horta Van Hoye was photographed by Eddy Mottaz. She transforms recycled newspapers into works of art to show the fragility of our lives.

The same photographer took photos of a show called H2O + 4 Madames by Théâtre Mayatnik. This women’s company from Uzbekistan talks about the drying-up of the Aral Sea, an ecological catastrophe. These women collect water in each town where they perform. They then pour this water into the Aral Sea.

In 2017, Chilean collective Mil M2 did an art project with the people of Nyon. The artists ask important questions: What is a horizon? What are limits and borders? The Mil M2 collective then showed the words of the inhabitants in the form of installations in the city and on the lake. French artist Laurent Pichaud spoke about these same subjects in 2020. He imagined a geographical space that would allow borders to meet.

The show …en jumelle was also photographed by Arya Dil. Take your time to discover the project photos on the next panels. You’ll also see a proposal by Belgian artist Gwendoline Robin about the links between earth, air and water. Pamina de Coulon’s performance on Lake Geneva speaks of the importance of taking care of the oceans.

In 40 years, far° has changed a lot. The festival began at the Usine à Gaz in 1984. Later, the building was almost turned into restaurants, garages and hotels. But artists banded together to save the building. In 2018, the Salle des Marchandises became a performance and rehearsal space for far°. The far° team was heavily involved in the renovation of this hall.

Each year, architects and the far° team create a new setting for the festival center, in keeping with the festival theme. Here you can eat, have a drink, chat with artists or listen to music. You’ll find other photographs in the Cour des Marchandises to follow the exhibition route, as well as in the Salle Communale and on the Usine à Gaz forecourt. Postcards of the photos are available from the far° box office. There’s more to discover during the festival.

Check the complete program on far-nyon.ch.