Kapitel 2- Bedeutung des Wassers
TEXTILE FREQUENZEN:

2026

Tonaufnahme zur Audioinstallation im Ausstellungsraum

Produktion und Konzeption:

Velina Taskova
Lisa Maria Kocher

Die forschungsbasierte Audioinstallation «Textile Frequenzen» besteht aus einer sorgfältig kuratierten Sammlung von Interviewausschnitten, die einen vielfältigen Einblick in lokale sowie nationale Textilgeschichten wiedergeben. Rapperswil-Jona bildet dabei den zentralen Ausgangspunkt, wobei das auditive Erlebnis auch über die Stadtgrenzen hinaus diesen textilen Verstrickungen nachspürt. Thematisch werden unter anderem die schweizerische Textilindustrie, die sozialpolitischen Bedeutungen und womögliche Leerstellen im historiografischen Diskurs beleuchtet. Entlang der Gewässer spinnen sich die Erzählungen der drei interviewten Expert*innen und werden letztlich in einen globalen Kontext verwoben.

 [EN]

The research-based audio installation “Textile Diaries” consists of a carefully curated collection of interview excerpts that offer a multifaceted insight into local and national textile histories. Rapperswil-Jona serves as the central starting point, though the auditive experience traces these textile entanglements and reaches beyond the town’s borders. Thematically, the project sheds light on topics such as the Swiss textile industry, its socio-political meaning, and potential gaps in historiographical discourses. The narratives of the three interviewed experts unfold along the waterways and are ultimately woven and embedded into a global context.

Expert*innen/Experts:

• Marianne Burki (Kunst- und Architekturhistorikerin, Leiterin TaDa)
• Peter Röllin (Kultur- und Kunstwissenschaftler)
• Nora Baur (Kunsthistorikerin, Restauratorin, Leiterin Museum Neuthal)

Transcript in EN:

CHAPTER II – floating interweavements  

What role does water play in relation to textiles?

Nora Baur

So, water remained a source of energy until the very end. Unlike other regions of Europe, where steam engines very quickly became the sole means of powering machinery, regions like the Zurich Oberland continued to rely on hydropower well into the 20th century. At first, of course, this involved using the mechanical power directly to drive the machines – later, it shifted to generating electricity using Francis-turbines. And that was the case here as well: From the very beginning, the location was consciously chosen because there was water here. The manufacturer bought the mill – and with it, the water rights – and was therefore able to build a factory here and make use of the water.

Peter Röllin

Geographically and historically, the old town stream was sufficient for Näf and the first Braendlin spinning mill, which began operations in an old paper mill. But the expansion of this spinning mill led to new buildings, which are very prominent today. For these new factories, a new water source had to be sought and found to power these mechanical spinning machines. As a result, the Jona was diverted much further into the forest via a weir into a canal that runs under the forest to the so-called “Braendlin Pond”. The Braendlin Pond – as the name suggests – was created by this company and is actually a small reservoir.

A spinning mill always needs reserves, because you can’t count on the water always flowing at the same rate during a hot summer – it needs a reservoir. [For this reason], the Lattenbach stream [in that area] was also diverted into this pond and then channeled into a separate canal in the direction of this new Braendlin spinning mill. Just before the spinning mill, there is a significant drop in elevation leading to the large waterwheel that once stood at the Braendlin spinning mill. This waterwheel had to be operated from below [called “Unterschlächtig”] – not, as we know from fairy tales, like a mill [from above].

And from this large waterwheel, gear wheels connected to smaller wheels, which then transmitted power throughout the factory. All these shafts rotating inside the factory were in turn connected to the spinning machines via leather belts. This means that all the spinning machines in these factories were connected to this transmission system. This is how the motion of the large waterwheel was transferred to the individual machines.

Marianne Burki

This industry was very often located along the water – such as along the Rhine. Water has always created this illusion that you can simply wash everything away. But the idea that we might need to look for other solutions – like filters – didn’t come along until much later. This connection to water – these industries – often also discouraged people from going near the water in the first place, aside from the mosquitoes [and so on]. But our lakeshores, which we now enjoy visiting and which are recreational areas, were of course something entirely different. But yes, I think water is still one of the most central challenges when it comes to textiles.