Special Exhibition "Giant Wonder World of Insects"

Description

«Giant Wonder World of Insects»: When small animals come into their own. A new special exhibition at the Umwelt Arena Switzerland makes biodiversity visible with several-meter-tall insect sculptures and combines art, experience, and environmental education. Spreitenbach, September 2026 – They pollinate plants, decompose organic material, regulate populations, and serve as a food source for many animal species: insects are essential for functioning ecosystems. Yet, in everyday life, these small animals are often hardly noticed. The new special exhibition "Giant Wonder World of Insects," which is on view until March 28, 2027, at the Umwelt Arena Switzerland in Spreitenbach, changes the perspective—and makes small insects impressive ambassadors for biodiversity. Five insect sculptures up to three meters high, made from native wood, bring the fascinating world of insects into large format. Their monumental size draws attention, sparks curiosity, and invites closer inspection. The exhibition consciously uses this fascination as an entry point into environmental education: visitors and students learn about the roles insects play in our ecosystems, the habitats they need, and why their diversity is of great importance to humans and nature. At the same time, the exhibition shows why many insect habitats are increasingly under pressure. Five insects – five ecological stories Each of the five sculptures is based on a native insect species and tells its own ecological story: The grasshopper highlights the importance of wild plants and diverse meadows. The butterfly bridges the Midland to the alpine region. The stag beetle shows the importance of deadwood as a habitat, the ladybug as a biological helper in fields and gardens for natural cycles. The wild bee, in turn, draws attention to the over 600 wild bee species in Switzerland and their vital role in pollination. The deliberate enlargement makes visible the forms, structures, and beauty of the animals, which are often overlooked in everyday life. At the same time, the exhibition conveys knowledge not abstractly but through wonder, discovery, and experience. Thus, the giant insects become ambassadors of their natural habitats and vividly demonstrate how closely biodiversity and intact ecosystems are interconnected. Sustainability also plays an important role in the implementation: the sculptures are made from native wood, constructed resource-efficiently, and can be reused or recycled after their display. Giant insects indoors and outdoors One sculpture is placed in the nature garden in front of the Umwelt Arena and is clearly visible from the street. Another giant insect welcomes visitors in the entrance hall. The remaining sculptures are located in the special exhibition room and refer to different insect habitats. Information panels provide interesting facts about the lifestyle, distribution, needs, and ecological significance of each species. A media station documents the creation of the large-format artworks, with further content detailed in a display case. On January 23, 2027, a specialist lecture with a representative from Pro Natura on the topic of insects and their importance will complement the exhibition. Special exhibitions create new perspectives The Umwelt Arena Switzerland regularly supplements its permanent exhibitions with changing special exhibitions. They address current topics, set new accents, and continually open new approaches to environmental and sustainability issues. With "Giant Wonder World of Insects," biodiversity and the connection of art, experience, and environmental education are at the center. This aligns with the core mission of the Umwelt Arena Switzerland: to make connections understandable and experiencable and to impart knowledge for a more conscious handling of our natural resources. Artistic concept The project is realized in collaboration with the Umwelt Arena Switzerland by artist and scenographer Karin Bucher, together with Jennifer Mc Innis, Stefan Schmidhofer, Sonja Greuter, Samuel Neff, and Erika Gedeon. The team has extensive experience in building large-scale sculptures and implementing space-related art projects. Karin Bucher is a freelance scenographer, director, and lecturer in scenography and visual arts, with more than twenty years of experience in developing spatial staging and thematically focused exhibitions. Max Chopard, project manager of the special exhibition, explains: "With the giant insects, we make the often-overlooked visible. Our goal is to create emotional access through the power of art and to strengthen awareness of biodiversity and the protection of natural habitats." The special exhibition is supported by Swisslos Aargau and the two exhibition partners of the Umwelt Arena Switzerland, Kuratle Group and Andermatt Biogarten. "Giant Wonder World of Insects" Until March 28, 2027 Umwelt Arena Switzerland, Spreitenbach The special exhibition is included in the regular admission. More about the exhibition: https://umweltarena.ch/ausstellung/sonderausstellung-insekten/ Specialist lecture "Insects" on January 23, 2027: https://umweltarena.ch/veranstaltungen/fachvortrag-insekten/ Artistic concept: https://karinbucher.ch/

Highlights

• Up to three-meter-high insect sculptures
• Exhibition until March 28, 2027
• Connection of art and environmental education

General Information

The special exhibition "Giant Wonder World of Insects" at the Umwelt Arena Switzerland features impressive insect sculptures made from native wood. It conveys knowledge about the importance of insects for our ecosystems and raises awareness for the protection of their habitats.

Location

Türliackerstrasse 4, 8957 Spreitenbach, Switzerland

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