Lazerian has joined forces with Lawless Studio® to deliver a public art installation in Geneva’s Parc Mon Repos—part of a wider campaign to raise global awareness around snakebite envenoming. Located in Switzerland, Geneva is a significant cultural and educational hub, not just for artists but for the progress and creation of street art and design.

The project coincided with the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) and brought together artists, creatives, and collaborators with a shared goal: to spotlight an often-overlooked health crisis through powerful visual storytelling. By using education alongside sculpture and the work of several artists the message can be positive and the project successful.

Introduction to Public Art in Geneva

Geneva, a city in Switzerland, is renowned for its vibrant public art scene, which showcases a wide range of sculptures, murals, and other artworks throughout the city. The city’s commitment to public art is evident in its numerous exhibitions, museums, and street art installations, making it a hub for artists and art enthusiasts alike. The natural environment of Geneva, with its picturesque lakeside location and surrounding mountains, provides a unique backdrop for the city’s public art, with many artists drawing inspiration from the city’s stunning scenery. As a global city, Geneva plays host to a diverse range of artistic styles and mediums, from traditional sculpture to contemporary installation art, creating a dynamic and ever-changing art scene that sheds light on the city’s rich cultural heritage.

The Purpose Behind the Work

Snakebite envenoming is a neglected tropical disease that kills up to 138,000 people each year, with hundreds of thousands more left permanently disabled. In Switzerland, citizens can submit federal initiatives and referendums to address public health issues like snakebite envenoming. It disproportionately affects rural communities in regions with limited access to treatment, resources, or protective equipment.

There is growing concern about the lack of access to treatment and resources in these rural communities.

The Hidden in Plain Sight sculptures aim to communicate the scale and urgency of this issue. Designed and built in the Lazerian workshop in Manchester, each snake was created using discarded flip-flops—chosen as a material to reflect the inadequate footwear available to many agricultural workers in snakebite-prone areas.

With strong internal frameworks and attention to anatomical detail—from articulated jaws to fangs and forked tongues—the sculptures were developed to be both physically durable and visually impactful. Even the flip-flop toeposts were repurposed to form the tongues, ensuring no part of the material went unused.

There is hope that this project will raise awareness and drive policy change, contributing to a future where snakebite envenoming is no longer a neglected issue.

A Road Trip Across Europe

Once the sculptures were completed, Lazerian’s Liam Hopkins and James transported them by van and trailer from Manchester to Geneva. The energy and effort required for this journey were immense, reflecting the dedication to the project. Travelling through the Eurotunnel and across France, the journey was a continuation of the hands-on, problem-solving approach behind the project—an effort that required as much logistical coordination as creative vision.

The Natural Environment as Inspiration

The natural environment of Geneva has long been a source of inspiration for artists, with its breathtaking landscapes and unique wildlife providing a wealth of material for creative expression. Many of the city’s public art installations reflect this connection to nature, with sculptures and murals depicting scenes of the natural world, from the majestic mountains to the serene lakeside vistas. The city’s proximity to France and its location in the heart of Europe also make it an ideal hub for international artists, who come to Geneva to draw inspiration from its stunning natural beauty and to showcase their work in the city’s numerous galleries and museums. By embracing the natural environment as a source of inspiration, Geneva’s public art scene creates a sense of synergy between the city’s urban and natural landscapes, highlighting the importance of preserving and protecting the natural world for future generations.

Installation at Parc Mon Repos

Upon arrival in Geneva, the Lazerian team joined Lawless Studio® and other collaborators on-site at Parc Mon Repos. Photographs were taken to document the installation process as the group installed ten artworks throughout the park, transforming the space into a temporary open-air exhibition designed to engage passersby and WHA delegates alike.

The install weekend was challenging and collaborative—marked by customs delays, vehicle issues, missing tools, and last-minute material sourcing. Yet the outcome was a shared achievement: a high-impact visual presence in a prominent public space, supported by a multi-disciplinary team working across art, design, and advocacy.

Contemporary Art Scene in Geneva

Geneva’s contemporary art scene is thriving, with a wide range of galleries, museums, and street art installations showcasing the work of local and international artists. The city is home to numerous art festivals and events throughout the year, including the Geneva Art Fair and the Contemporary Art Biennale, which attract visitors from all over the world. Many of the city’s public art installations are temporary, making way for new and innovative works to be created and displayed, keeping the city’s art scene fresh and exciting. The use of digital mediums and technology is also becoming increasingly popular in Geneva’s contemporary art scene, with many artists experimenting with new forms of digital art and installation. As a result, Geneva has become a hub for contemporary art, with its unique blend of traditional and modern artistic styles making it a must-visit destination for art lovers and collectors.

The Wider Exhibition: Collective Voices, Shared Focus

Alongside Lazerian’s sculptures, the installation featured works by a number of other artists, each playing a crucial role in highlighting different perspectives on the issue:

• Lisa Lloyd created a delicate yet powerful Russell’s Viper sculpture from thousands of paper scales, surrounded by antivenom vials—highlighting the complexity of developing effective treatments.
• Mr Finbar contributed hand-painted “Danger! Venomous Snakes” signs, based on warnings found in high-risk communities.
• Rohan Dahotre, an illustrator from India, produced a series of posters featuring snakes like the Black Mamba, exploring the vulnerability of those living in remote, under-resourced regions.

The exhibition also included various performances, showcasing the diversity of artistic expression and emphasizing the cultural significance of the project.

Together, these artworks formed part of the StrikeOutSnakebite campaign, in partnership with Freuds+. The exhibition was designed to bring attention to a solvable issue that continues to cause preventable suffering.

Art as Public Awareness

This project demonstrates the success of using public art to communicate complex messages in accessible, memorable ways. Geneva—a city known for diplomacy and international dialogue—provided the ideal backdrop to open up conversations around global health equity, research, and the importance of policy change.

The sculptures remain a visible reminder of what can be achieved through collaboration and support from various stakeholders, including artists, communicators, and advocacy groups.