Myths

Myths speak of origins and order. They help us interpret natural phenomena and liminal experiences, condensing fears, hopes, and images that resonate across generations. They emerge in times of uncertainty as much as in moments of departure and change – as explanations, as consolation, or as projections for that which resists rational resolution.

Myths are present in all cultures. At the same time, they are never static: they are retold and, in the process, transformed. This is precisely where their power lies. They adapt to new realities and therefore remain effective.

The present, too, has its myths. They appear in political narratives as much as in biographical self-images, media worlds, role models, and in the meanings ascribed to places, landscapes, or bodies. Myths can create meaning and shape identity, but they can also exclude and manipulate.

For the Artist in Residence Programme 2027, we are seeking artistic works that engage with myths in their social, personal, or political dimensions. Future-oriented approaches are equally welcome: What myths might be told a hundred years from now – in a world shaped by changing climate zones, technologies, body images, and ways of living? And which myths are already emerging today in digital publics, gaming cultures, or AI-generated visual worlds?

We are also interested in projects that take the site and its surroundings into account: Villa Sonnenberg, Lenzburg, the canton of Aargau, local stories, cultural imprints, landscapes, or social narratives. We look forward to receiving many international submissions.

Villa Sonnenberg offers inspiring spaces for living and working, as well as a range of possibilities for presentation and public engagement – through exhibitions, concerts, readings, talks, workshops, or other formats