Swiss Design Nonsense

I live in Switzerland and believe that this country has some of the best-designed banknotes in the world. The series currently in circulation has been phased in gradually between 1995 and 1998 and features motifs of Swiss artists like architect Le Corbusier, artists Sophie Tauber-Arp and Alberto Giacometti, or writer Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz.
Earlier this year, the Swiss National Bank  announced its intention to introduce a new series by 2010, and invited twelve designers into a competition, asking them to represent "Switzerland open to the world". The entries are just in, and the least that can be said is that both the designers, the jury and the commissioning bankers must have been sniffing glue. More below, but first take a look at the winning entry, by Zurich-based graphic designer Manuel Krebs (click on the picture to enlarge):

What you see there are a rendering of the AIDS virus (on the 200 Swiss Francs bill), of a skull (on the lower-right corner of the 1000), of an embryo (on the 100), and other similar motives. Think of having a fun dinner with friends at a nice restaurant, and then hand over to the waiter a 200-Francs bill representing the AIDS virus.
Why someone would think that such images belong on banknotes, I can't really fathom. How exactly they relate to the theme "Switzerland open to the world", and how they would signal to the world that these bills as Swiss, also totally eludes me. And considering the history of Swiss banking, one cannot help but make the connection between the gold bar on the 1000-Franc bill (the gold of African dictators hidden in Swiss vaults) and the skull on the same bill (that of their victims). The jury was chaired by Jean-Christophe Ammann, the art historian formerly director of the Museum of modern art of Frankfurt. Here is, verbatim, what he had to say about Krebs' work (the jury chose it unanimously as the best one):

The chosen images are relevant and all address difficult issues such as AIDS. In addition to being very clear, the proposed designs are universal and will remain topical in the future. The sense of cohesion in this homogeneous series is very strong, with the themes moving from the macroscopic to the astronomical (from red blood cells to the universe) and the relationship between the obverse and reverse of the banknotes proving very perceptive. This portfolio is the type that breaks with tradition, offering an element of surprise. The semantic value is very pronounced.

Amman did acknowledge that:

The only point not in its favour is that certain images could lead to confusion.

And to the press he later said:

In Switzerland, money has a special status. It is a numbered, signed piece of graphic art.

At least on this point, one may agree with him. Bills aren't just money: they're a representation of a country, a rendering of its identity, they carry emotions. As the Neue Zurcher Zeitung wrote (that's the best Swiss daily newspaper and the one read by bankers): there is an eroticism of money. This new design has none of that: it's a, nonsensical, uninspired, slightly repellent exercise in condescension.
Now, to be fair the designers were given a tough task by the bank: they could not represent individuals, inventions or achievements. Rather, they had to find ways to convey a different attitude:

Switzerland as a platform for dialogue, progress, humanitarian commitment, exciting experiences, creativity and the search for practical approaches to solutions within organizations. (...) Six topics have to be depicted, namely the activities of negotiating and exchanging; teaching and researching; helping and meditating; enjoying and relaxing; creating and designing; and deciding and implementing.

A tough script to follow. And indeed the other designers submitted equally unoriginal and quizzical proposals. On the right is a selection. From top left: some sort of unidentified mechanical creature; an office cubicle; a girl gymnast; a whistle; women working in a rice field in some Asian country; and a strange "nature morte" with bread and candles. I think I can get the reference to "Switzerland open to the world" inscribed in the rice fields, but: a cubicle? A whistle?
The Central Bank is not bound by the jury's decision, and last time they changed the look of banknotes they indeed chose the third-placed design. But given the very poor judgement they exhibited in defining the boundaries of the competition, the possibility that someday soon I may have to hand over a skull or an embryo or a whistle to pay for a book or a sandwich is frighteningly real.

Comments

[scott partee]

Wow! Great analysis. With Switzerland being one of the last vestiges of currency design (since the Euro came to be), I hope they come up with something better than this. Personally, I miss European National Currencies -- they made our (US) money seem so unoriginal and boring (which it still is). Dutch money, in particular, I remember as being quite beautiful.

[Toke Nygaard]

Must be one of thos ecompetitions where all the entries are so weak that you have to choose between the least crappy ones.

[adam]

I dunno, I rather like the idea of self-authenticatingly filthy lucre.

[Bill Lindmeier]

That's one expensive sandwich.

[mike]

"Think of having a fun dinner with friends at a nice restaurant, and then hand over to the waiter a 200-Francs bill representing the AIDS virus."
Perhaps more people should be reminded of the horrors that daily surround us and yet remain unseen. Maybe not such a bad idea after all?

[Kevin]

Mike:

Perhaps we should continue your theme with other similar ideas.

How about child molestation on the 50, and a multi-generational welfare family on the 100?

[mike]

Kevin:

We could but we were not chosen to design these notes, nor was it my theme to begin with.

[Kevin]

Mike:

The instructions to the designers specifically mention: Switzerland as a platform for dialogue, progress, humanitarian commitment, exciting experiences, creativity and the search for practical approaches to solutions within organizations. (...) Six topics have to be depicted, namely the activities of negotiating and exchanging; teaching and researching; helping and meditating; enjoying and relaxing; creating and designing; and deciding and implementing.

Nowhere does it include “reminding us of the daily horrors that surround us yet remain unseen”. That idea was put forth by you.

[ben weeks]

This looks more thought provoking to me, not something to be offended about. Why hang onto traditional selections of imagery? This looks like leadership. These are indeed important issues in the future as well as the present.

Interesting analysis of the situation though in regards to the history of swiss banking and it's association with evil. Skulls/Bars of gold for instance.

But are you suggesting that gold/skulls should not be used?
Is avoiding references to the dark side the way to go?
Could using more happy, positive things be seen as not telling the whole story?
Is using such association laden imagery a disturbing form of celebration of a swiss dark side?
Or is it a cathartic acknowledgement of truth?

[jwbroek]

I consider the AIDS imagery to be in particularly bad taste. Just imagine what it will be like for people who suffer from HIV, or who have a loved one who suffers from the disease. They will be reminded of it every time they see the 200 CHF note, while the rest of us will be desensitized to them in no time. Way to help the AIDS-victims, jury!

[James Butts]

I consider your taste to be questionable, Herr Broek. Facing the realities of the world economy is just what it is.

[BG]

Interesting points about the "cathartic acknowledgement of truth" and about taste (de gustibus non est disputandum - there is no accounting for taste, as the Latins said). My overall point was: currency bills are a vehicle for both monetary value and symbolic value - they're supposed to represent the country they belong to. I'm certainly not among those that advocate "not looking at the dark side of the world", but currency bills aren't the place for that. I personally don't see what makes the suggested bill design "Swiss", and I find them of very bad taste.

[Nicola G]

From an artist's point of view I like the notes. They're both vibrant in colour and as always drip with 'Swiss Design'; the orientation, detail and bold statements made by the illustrations.
I would have no problem pulling out a 200chf when paying for my meal as I would like to hope people aren't petty enough to go beyond the numerical factor. Maybe One should be using a Credit Card for such transactions anyhow as I'm sure a few establishments won't except notes over a 100chf denominator.

[haluk]

I don't like that new fegure banknotes and b former banknotes better than new

[haluk]

current currency design is better than new design banknotes.

[Olivier Hulliger]

Comment about the first comment on the top:

You probably have no idea what's really printed on the 200 franc bill! Do you?

This isn't a ADIS virus or anything, these are molecules! By the way I also like the old disign better than the new one. But don't express your resentment the way you did! I'm sure there is a politer way in this case.

Thanks - Olivier Hulliger