mural

The art piece

Wasser – Quell allen Lebens” (“Water – Source of Life”), a mural by Upper Valais artist Christoph Heinen, transforms the parking lot of the Musée des Bisses in Ayent into an immersive artistic experience. This fascinating creation combines local history, Valais hydraulic heritage and contemporary urban art, transforming the functional space into a living representation of a suspended bisse.

The roof becomes a glazed basin, creating the captivating illusion of a bisse overhanging the road, linking the historic past with modern reality. The columns are adorned with golden symbols inspired by the old Valais “family marks” used to manage water rights. These motifs are reminiscent of hieroglyphics and underline the common origins of communication systems, echoing the earliest forms of writing in Mesopotamia, born of the need to account for and manage community resources.

This work is a reminder of the crucial importance of water management in the development of Valais villages. More than a simple decoration, it invites us to reflect on the fundamental role of water in the region, while establishing a tangible link with the nearby Musée des Bisses.

Wasser – Quell allen Lebens’ is thus a powerful testimony to Valais history and culture, celebrating water as a vital element and a pillar of local heritage.