With its lush rainforest and enigmatic rivers, the Amazon is considered by many to be the epitome of unspoilt nature. Yet its dense greenery holds traces of past civilisations. Museum Rietberg opens up a new vista onto the Amazon’s cultural history. The exhibition presents spectacular archaeological findings ranging from intricately painted urns from Brazil to precious cocoa bottles from Ecuador, telling the story of the highly sophisticated cultures that flourished long before the colonial era.

A particular highlight is the immersive installation showcasing the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Chiribiquete, known as the "Sistine Chapel of the Ancients". Monumental cave paintings from the Colombian rainforest come to life in Zurich with projections, soundscapes, and symbolic figures including jaguars and piranhas.

With art, archaeology, and indigenous knowledge, Amazonian Legacies shows how body painting, jewellery, and cave art opens up spiritual worlds, powerfully uniting past and present.