The mountains are an environment that are held in fascination and awe by people the world over. For many they are a spiritual and mystical place and for others they are natures art gallery, the two views are by no means mutually exclusive although there is a school of thought that the mountains should be left pristine and untouched and a protected environment. It’s no wonder that any attempt to ‘deface’ the sacred mountains are met with protest and controversy. However from time to time the hand of humans can be seen at work.
Brits who are familiar with the Angel of the North, the iconic sculpture that stands sentinel like by the side of the A1, near Durham in the North East of England will have felt right at home in Lech. Between the years of 2010-2012, 100 life-sized human cast iron sculptures populated 150sqm of the Austrian Alps, they were the work of Antony Gormley who conceived and constructed the 200ton Angel in 1998. The Lech figures were nowhere near as huge as the Angel but they had the unmistakable Gormley silhouette, which is not surprising as he used his own body for the cast.
The artwork by Swiss artist Nikolai Winter literally gave the finger to those who think the mountains should be a pristine wilderness, visitors to St Moritz in 2012, were shocked and amused in equal measure by the “Stinkefinger” that sat atop the Muottas Muragi. How Nikolai managed to pull of that outrageous statement is any one’s guess, he was eventually told to ‘ski off’ and stick his finger where the sun don’t shine.
An altogether more respected giant of the art world was honoured in Megeve, nine of Salvador Dali’s outdoor sculptures were proudly displayed between 2006-2012, from melting clocks, to matchstick legged elephants, the works were a surprising and surreal sight. Meanwhile in Courchevel skiers may have had a near miss or two with the giant, paint-splattered Pugs, the work of sculptor Richard Orlinski, that were scattered about the piste.
Not so much an artwork more a place of worship, the ice chapel hewn from the glacier in Saa Fee, Switzerland, is a remarkable feature that is part of a huge ice cave that attracts many visitors and also many bride and bridegrooms who choose this amazing venue to get hitched. Thermal underwear beneath the wedding dress is recommended and brides, don’t even think about keeping the bridegroom and guests waiting, they’ll possibly freeze to death.
Surely no one could complain about the Tibetan prayer flags to be found at a cairn at the top of the Aiguille chairlift in the French resort of Sainte Foy. This Himalayan practice has been imported to pay tribute to Pems, a member of the ski patrol who perished in an avalanche in 2004. Prayer flags, battered and tattered by the extreme weather on Himalayan peaks are a common feature. Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to gods, which is a common misconception. Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space. Therefore, prayer flags are thought to bring benefit to all, even to the spoilsports who want to banish them.
Colourful prayer flags are one thing but bras and skimpy knickers are another, the practice of throwing the aforementioned items into the nearest tree to celebrate a sexual conquest the night before has been a custom in North American ski resorts since the 50’s, tut tut! The chosen ‘Special Tree’ becomes festooned with a colourful array of skimpies and resembles a jumble sale in a gale. It’s to be hoped this scandalous behavior doesn’t catch on in the Alps.