Olivier de Sépibus
Photographer | Artist

Because there are glaciers flowing in us

Climate change is causing the melting of the Alpine glaciers. This, is disrupting not only the ecological balance but also the representation we have of this environment. The glacier is a central element in the pictorial mountain representation, then photographic. What happen when it is reduced to a congruent part nestled at high altitude? Are the Alps, and their imaginary world, going to be able to withstand the disappearance of their founding paradigm ?Observing the transformation of the alpine environment, I try to re-actualize their representations regarding the upheavals at work.

Hyper-mountain

Map & landscape From the Swiss maps at 25000e, I reproduce emblematics Alps mountains. The idea here is to take the mountain out of its map context topographic by retaining only the physical information of the territory, only relief. With charcoal, I reproduce the enlarged relief tracings that operate like an unfolding. I go through these chaotics reliefs with my hand to restore their coherence and complexities. I don't include glaciers leaving blank spots because between the topographical survey and the reality of today's, glaciers have receded and disappeared. I do the choice to leave a gap, which our imagination will fill. The map finally turned into a landscape.