Exhibition in Zurich – 100 years of “Ulysses”: Don’t be afraid of contact! – Culture

Mustache cups and other trinkets: An exhibition seeks tangible access to James Joyce’s novel of the century.

A poster hangs right at the beginning of the “Ulysses from 100 Pages” exhibition. It shows Marilyn Monroe with Ulysses open on her lap. Has the acting star actually read the novel of the century?

“I think so,” says Ursula Zeller, co-curator of the “Ulysses” exhibition at Zurich’s Museum Strauhof. Monroe once stated that she read the book for four months. And that she found it difficult to read, Zeller adds.

Three figures, one day

With that, Monroe was in good company. The story of “Ulysses” is actually told quickly. There are the three main characters Leopold Bloom, his wife Molly and the teacher and aspiring writer Stephen Dedalus. They all experience one day, June 16, 1904 in Dublin.

They have breakfast, they meet at a funeral, they argue in a pub about nationalities and hatred of Jews. An angry citizen throws a biscuit tin at Bloom’s head. An infidelity from his wife keeps Leopold Bloom busy for half the day, until late at night everyone falls into bed exhausted.

Biscuit tin and lemon soap

Almost 1000 pages, spread over 18 chapters, fill the encounters and thoughts of the three characters on this one day. The challenge when reading is not the plot, it is the language. In the exhibition, short samples are hung in large letters along the walls.

Inescapable modality of the visible. At least this, if not thought more, through my eyes.

These quotes on the walls lead through Leopold Bloom’s day. They are supplemented with objects that James Joyce describes in detail in the novel. The biscuit tin, a lemon soap that Bloom carries in his coat pocket all day, and a mustache mug, a gift from his daughter. With this mug, even the biggest mustache stays dry while drinking.

Legend:

The legendary mustache mug, with a bridge designed to keep the mustache dry.

Museum Strauhof / Collection ZJJS

Working tool address book

Also on display in the exhibition: a 2,000-page Dublin address book from 1904. “The most important working tool for the novel,” says Ursula Zeller, the co-curator. James Joyce took it with him when he wrote Ulysses in Trieste and for a long time in Zurich.

James Joyce used this address book as a guide when he let his characters wander through the streets of Dublin. James Joyce also did not leave Leopold and Molly’s home address to chance.

He let her live in a house at 7 Eccles Street which, according to his address book, was empty. According to Zeller, James Joyce made sure that no one loses the roof over their heads when two fictional characters move in.

Nice quick run

The exhibition gives an insight into the novel. Original notes reveal James Joyce’s chaotic way of working. Various newspaper quotes show how criticism and interpretations have changed over the past 100 years after the initial scandals.

The exhibition does not replace reading, says Ursula Zeller. “But if you’re looking for a crash course so that you can have a say at a party, our walk through ‘Ulysses’ is probably quite useful.”

At best, the exhibition encourages the next attempt, perhaps to read the famous book to the end.