Helveticana in Beijing

Helveticana - Swiss Material Culture in Motion at M WOODS in Beijing

At M WOODS in Beijing, “Helveticana — Swiss Material Culture in Motion” opens a view onto Swiss everyday culture through garments, gear and uniforms. The exhibition is a collaboration between the Embassy of Switzerland in China, M WOODS and Souvenir Sport.

More than 100 objects from the Souvenir Sport archive span the 1930s to the 1990s. Alpine equipment, school uniforms and sportswear show how landscape, work and leisure shaped Swiss material culture over time.

The functionality is clearly visible.

The exhibition avoids nostalgia. Instead, it treats these pieces as practical objects that reflect Swiss habits of making: functional, precise and built to last. That approach gives the show a quiet relevance, especially in a moment when durability is once again part of the conversation.

Chinese artists add a present-day layer by reworking archive material through contemporary styling. The result is a measured dialogue between past and present, Switzerland and China.

“Helveticana” runs at M WOODS in Beijing until 19 July 2026.

M WOODS BEIJING

No. 81 Chaoyangmen Inner Street,

Dongcheng District, Beijing

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