War as a Space of Memory – Images, Values, Identifications

How do collective memories come about? Which images, narratives and symbols shape our social values and collective identity? What significance do places of remembrance and figures of remembrance hold for the collective memory?

This expert-led tour explores how experiences of war are culturally processed and translated into shared self-images.

The focus is on the ways in which war is remembered, represented and passed on. Works of art, visual narratives and cultural artefacts reveal how notions of threat, heroism, self-sacrifice, neutrality or military preparedness arise, and what values they convey.

From a cultural studies perspective, the tour explores how memory is staged: why do certain figures, places and narratives become the bearers of collective memory? What opportunities for identification do they create? And how do these narratives continue to influence individual perceptions, social values and self-images to this day?

Please note that new opening hours will apply at the Landesmuseum Zürich from 1 October 2026. From this date, the museum, the shop and the bistro will close at 5 pm on Thursdays, whilst the library will close at 6 pm. Thank you for taking note of this.