The Sea Inside Us

Salines Suisses SA and the Embassy of Ireland in Switzerland host a landmark cultural event to present Irish artist Ruth E Lyons' acclaimed debut film The Sea Inside Us, an awe-inspiring visual poem that chronicles the human connection to the sea through salt.

Taking place inside deep inside Mines de Sel de Bex in the mine's underground screening room, far beneath the Rhône Valley and surrounded by ancient brine wells, the event brings audiences into direct, physical contact with the film's subject: the vast Zechstein Sea, an ancient body of salt water whose geological seam stretches from Ireland to Russia, and which Lyons has spent over a decade tracing through collaborations with salt mines across Europe.

The Sea Inside Us (digital film, 2025, 23 minutes), made in collaboration with DoP Colm Hogan, follows Lyons into salt mines hundreds of metres underground and across snow-capped alpine mountain ranges, using salt as a lens to explore deep time, industry and the human relationship to the sea. The film was shot at the artist's home on Ireland's Atlantic coast, in Sicily, and at Salina Helvetica's sites in Switzerland, including Mines de Sel de Bex, making this event a homecoming to one of the film's principal locations.

“Lyons's work encompasses the true definition of ‘awe.’” – Julie Morrissy, writer

The film's original score, composed by sean-nós singer Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde, will be performed live by Mac Giolla Bhríde (accordion), Frances Morton (flute) and Aodhán Gavigan (tenor), in addition to new lyrical pieces. Their music, rooted in traditional Irish song and drawn from the Donegal Gaeltacht, is integral to the film.

Included in the event:

- Film screening

- Concert by traditional Irish musicians

- Sculpture by Ruth E Lyons created from salt sourced across Europe

- Tour of the mine

- Artist talk

- Apéro

Admission:

Free entry, booking essential. To register your interest please contact the Embassy of Ireland in Switzerland at berneRSVP@dfa.ie

Accessibility/ safety statement:

As this event takes place inside a mine on some areas of uneven ground, please wear suitable footwear and warm clothing.

For safety reasons, visitors should be able to move independently around the mine. Access for non-electric wheelchair users is possible via a separate entrance. Unfortunately it is not possible to bring electric wheelchairs or strollers into the mine. Please let us know, when booking, if you require accessibility accommodations.

Language:

The event will be in English. The film The Sea Inside Us will screen with French subtitles.

More info: https://tinyurl.com/famv27t5

This event at Mines de Sel de Bex is taking place as part of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026, kindly supported by Salines Suisses SA, the Embassy of Ireland in Switzerland, and Culture Ireland. Produced by Switzerland-based Irish curator Emer Lynch.