“Elephants & Squirrels” – Screening and Conversation as part of CINELöwenbräukunst

Cultural Heritage and the Ethics of Collecting

The Center for Art Law Switzerland hosted the first event of 2026, as part of the CINELöwenbräukunst series. We showed Elephants & Squirrels, a documentary following Sri Lankan artist Deneth Piumakshi Veda Arachchige as she uncovers looted artifacts and human remains of the indigenous Wanniyala-Aetto people held in Basel museum archives, and her determined efforts to secure their repatriation to Sri Lanka.

The screening was introduced by Jacqueline Uhlmann and Irina Tarsis, and included remarks from the film director, Gregor Braendli and the artist Deneth Piumakshi Veda Arachchige.

The event was supported by Migros Kulturprozent and ProHelvetia.