I had the honour of giving the opening speech for our exhibition on the occasion of the Women's European Football Championship in Sion on 2 July 2025. You can read about it and see some photos here.

Here is a translation of my speech, which I held in German. You can also listen to it on YouTube in GERMAN.

Dear visitors, Dear art lovers,

I am delighted to welcome you here today!

About a year ago, I received a message that a certain Agnès Guhl was looking for female artists to create an exhibition on the theme of women's football – as a cultural accompaniment to the UEFA Women's Euro. As I am always on the lookout for artistic challenges, I got in touch immediately.

Our first meeting as a group in Sion was full of energy, enthusiasm – and above all, a spirit of community. Or, to quote Franziska Schutzbach from her book "Revolution der Verbundenheit – Wie weibliche Solidarität die Gesellschaft verändert" (Revolution of Connectedness – How Female Solidarity is Changing Society):

‘When women joined forces, freedom was born.’

This exhibition – featuring works by 14 female artists – is a free expression of what moved us about women's football.

I admit: I was a little perplexed at first. Football? Not really my thing.

But after a few hours on the sidelines with my sketchbook and pen, I found my motif: the body in motion!

Because there's one thing we all have: a body. And this body brings with it three great powers:

· the power of movement (as on the football pitch),

· the power of communication (as I am doing with you now, and as you will later do with each other about the exhibition),

and

· the power of art.

What is this – the power of art?

It is the power of form. It is evident in everything we create: how we dress, how we arrange our food – it determines the expression of our everyday lives.

Because without form, there is no orientation. Without form, only arbitrariness remains.

Just as a football match needs rules, a field and jerseys, art also needs its forms.

Artistic power is the will to create form – an inner urge to give shape to the unformed, to chaos, to everything that surrounds us. It is the origin of all culture: in it we reflect ourselves, our thoughts, our dreams – far removed from the laws of nature, which we cannot influence.

When we talk about art, we are not talking about nature. Nature is given to us. We do not create nature. It is bound by its own rules.

Art, on the other hand, is what we humans create ourselves – quite consciously.

Through art, we shape a world that emerges from within us. A world in which we can move freely, both mentally and sensually.

This freedom is not an end in itself – it is a human need.

The forms created by humans are ‘unnatural’ – and therein lies their strength: they are free.

It is precisely this freedom that has given rise to this exhibition.

Our works here are not useful in the classical sense. They do not seek to serve or improve anything. They simply want to be.

In his famous essay ‘The Origin of the Work of Art’, Martin Heidegger describes art as an event of truth. It allows the essence of being to shine through – and opens up new perspectives on what surrounds us.

In other words, works of art help us to see things that have always been there – but perhaps never as visible as they are now.

And so we have all tried to express our truth and our freedom in this exhibition – for you, dear art lovers.

Perhaps today you will discover something you have never seen before.

A work that makes your thoughts dream.

A picture that your eyes love to wander through.

Or simply a feeling of home in a whole new context.

Finally, I would like to express my huge gratitude to Agnès – she conceived this exhibition, made it possible, curated it and even built the space for it. She welcomed us with open arms, contributed innovative ideas and was always open to our questions. She animated the city of Sion about our exhibition – a big thank you to the city employees who didn't just sweep our project off the table, but welcomed it with open arms.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to the École de Couture du Valais under the direction of Gabriela Schnyder, who worked hard, helped shape the project and supported it with great dedication.

And, of course, I would like to thank all the artists who were willing to get involved in this project and create works of art for it – I am proud to be part of it and to be able to show my work together with these wonderful people!

Because: Art is made by people for people.

And that is why – yes, this also needs to be said – the works are available for purchase.

You are welcome to take them home with you. Art is meant to travel.

And, as Matisse said: Enjoying art takes time.

Thank you very much for listening – I hope you find our exhibition inspiring and can spend some time enjoying the work we've made for you!