Art From Your Neighbour: A Thank You I Couldn't Put Into Words
I never planned to move to Switzerland. Like many of the most meaningful chapters in life, it began with a beautiful twist of fate. What I thought would be a short stay turned into a new home, a new family life, and an entirely new way of seeing the world.
Learning to Belong Without Words
When I arrived in Canton Zug, everything felt unfamiliar. The streets, the mountains, the rhythm of daily life, and of course, the language.
Not long after, my son was born, and I found myself navigating motherhood in a country where I barely knew anyone.
The people around me were kind. The landscape was breathtaking. Yet like many expats, there were moments when I felt disconnected, not because I was unwelcome, but because I couldn't fully express myself.
There were so many things I wanted to say. Stories I wanted to share. Conversations I wanted to join.
But sometimes language creates a distance between who we are and what we're able to communicate.
Art Became My Language
I still struggle in trying to learn the language of my new home, but I realised that art had always been the language I knew best. Art doesn't require perfect grammar. It doesn't care where you're from. It doesn't ask whether you speak German, English, Spanish, Polish, or something else entirely.
It simply creates a connection.
A feeling. A moment of recognition between two people. And that realisation became the seed of a project that I now call Art From Your Neighbour.
A Small Gift From One Neighbour to Another
From time to time, I leave small fine-art prints of my original paintings, handwritten letter, and carefully packaged in an envelope, in public places around the Canton Zug. Each one is a small gift waiting to be discovered.
On a bench. Near the lake. Along a walking path. Tucked somewhere unexpected. Each print is free to take home. There is no catch, no sign-up, and no obligation. Just a small piece of art waiting for a stranger to find it.
A quiet reminder that beauty still exists in ordinary places. Reminder that we are all here for a reason, and you are not alone. 
My Way of Saying Thank You
This project is, in many ways, a thank-you letter. To the place that became home when I least expected it. To the neighbours whose paths cross mine every day. To the community that welcomed my family and gave us a place to belong. Since I still don't always have the perfect words, I decided to express that gratitude in the way that feels most natural to me.
Through art.
If You Find One
Perhaps one of these little artworks will find you someday. Perhaps it will make you smile. Perhaps it will brighten an ordinary afternoon. Or perhaps it will simply remind you that even in a busy world, small acts of kindness still matter. And if it does, I hope you'll say hello. You can share where you found it, where it travelled next, or simply let me know how it made you feel, because the artwork is only the beginning.
The real project is a connection.
— Agi Swi
P.S. If you've found one of my envelopes, you're already part of this story. Check out the project page in EN or DE
And if one of my little artworks finds its way into your home, I'd love to see where it ends up. Tag @agiswi.art or use #ArtFromYourNeighbour on Instagram.
