The project entitled L’Adieu des glaciers: photographic and scientific research takes us on an iconographic and scientific journey through the glaciers of the Aosta Valley’s 4000m peaks and illustrates the way in which they have changed over time. After exploring the Mont Rosa massif in 2020, the project moves on this year to one of the world’s most iconic and photographed mountains: the Matterhorn.
All the distinctive features of the Matterhorn’s mountainous terrain and glaciers are displayed in a series of unpublished photographs taken over the last 150 years: images that use a wide variety of techniques and styles to portray not only the natural glacial environment, but also the various cultural and commercial recreational-sporting activities that take place on the glaciers.
More than 70 experts collaborated on the scientific content. A wide range of topics are covered, including the impact of climate change on permafrost degradation and on the number and size of glaciers. The curators are Michele Freppaz and Enrico Peyrot.
Amongst the photographic masterpieces on display are images taken by Vittorio Sella and Francesco Negri at the end of the 19th century; shots by contemporary photographers Armin Linke and Olivo Barbieri; a sequence of 28 photographs documenting the ascent of the Matterhorn by Princess Maria José of Piedmont, together with Alpine guides Luigi Carrel and Giulio Bich; a selection of shots of the Conca del Breuil, frequented by world bobsleigh and speed-skiing champions, by legendary sportsmen such as Leo Gasperl and show-biz VIPs such as Mike Bongiorno. The exhibition also includes some hitherto unpublished stills of the ski-mountaineering exploits of Walter Bonatti, Catherine Destivelle, Kílian Jornet Burgada and Hervé Barmasse.
