Photos on legends and rituals of Alpine peoples on display in Bolzano by Stefano Torrione

From April 27 to August 31, 2021, the Bolzano Civic Museum, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Bolzano CAI, which falls in 2021, presents the exhibition AlpiMagia: rites, legends and mysteries of the Alpine peoples, a photographic project by Stefano Torrione (Aosta, 1962) curated by Augusto Golin with the supervision of Maurizio Veronese. The shots by the photographer from Valle d’Aosta aim to celebrate the culture of the mountains, and in particular the alpine culture, by retracing the stages of a calendar year in the Alps, documenting through images rituals, legends and popular traditions of the alpine peoples, between past and present. The exhibition presents 78 large-format photographs that showcase more than seventy events, between Liguria and Friuli, documented by the author in the five years of work devoted to the project.

The Alps are among the most famous mountains in the World, the most talked about and studied: the Romans, Celts, Rhaetians and Germans passed through here, and Salassi, Camuni and Leponzi already lived here. So, from Liguria to Friuli, there is also an ancient thread made of magic, mystery and sacredness that binds all the rituals that are represented and that mark the intrinsic relationship that the native peoples have with the territory, with the calendar of peasant life and with the surrounding nature: from the legend of the Anguanas to that of the Wild Man and Krampus, from Epiphanic fires to those of the Summer Solstice, from Devil’s bonfires to those at high altitudes, from representations of Wolves to those of Bears, from Spring rites to those of propitiatory Plowing, from mystical Healers to Arboreal rites, from rites of passage to epithalamic songs, and again, from the night of the Witches to that of the Stars.

In the Alps, pagan beliefs have survived Christianity, mixing with it and giving rise to an archaic and mystical culture for the spiritual and temporal control of events, and the exhibition renders an engaging and fascinating composite fresco of it, illustrating the different facets of a unique millenary culture, linked to that territory and the peoples who have inhabited it for generations: from the Occitan peoples to the South Tyroleans, from the Ladins to the Valle d’Aosta, from the Cimbrians to the Friulians. Photographer Stefano Torrione, with his shots, wants to immerse the viewer in a visual journey in which the Alps are revealed as an extraordinary “terrifying and magical” scenery, full of stories to be told that at the same time testifies to the desire to resist the homogenization of the contemporary world.

“We were immediately very interested when the possibility of having in Bolzano Stefano Torrione’s wonderful photographic images, which range from Liguria to Friuli Venezia Giulia touching all regions of the Alps,” Maurizio Veronese, vice president of CAI Bolzano and contact person for the association’s cultural activities says. “Because talking about the Alps and the Dolomites, telling their history, traditions, and the culture of the mountain peoples seemed to us a great way to start celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Bolzano section of CAI. The exhibition is a magnificent portrait of Alpine culture, in which one will be able to appreciate the richness and charm of a project that, as in a game of mirrors, reflects glimpses of the life of the small Alpine worlds, separated from each other by impervious valleys, but united in a single spirit.”

“It is about,” emphasizes curator Augusto Golin, “a series of rituals that have a common origin, as stated by ethnologist Giovanni Kezich. A large puzzle that has splintered scattering across the Alpine territories but which have a shared source. Rites related to the peasant calendar, the changing of the seasons, the purifying but also regenerative fire; the exploits of wild men in the guise of bears, wolves and devils, water and the earth producing fruits for humans and animals, ending with the rites related to Advent. Rites that have faced over the centuries, if not millennia, various challenges that tended to distort or abolish them. The revival and survival of these traditions has seen them transform again, some becoming a tourist phenomenon, particularly the rites related to Carnival, others maintaining a more intimate character. Stefano Torrione, with his camera, has managed to document all this by not remaining on the sidelines. The lens does not separate the photographer from the action. But he participates in it intimately, he is involved in it, the fire burns, the sparks blind...”

The Alpimagia exhibition is accompanied by the exhibition catalog of the same name, published by Stefano Torrione Editore, which features 85 photographs and some texts by Strega Prize-winning writer Paolo Cognetti. The exhibition is made possible thanks to the patronage of the City of Bolzano and the Unesco Dolomites Foundation, the support of the culture offices of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano and the City of Bolzano and the Region of Trentino Alto Adige, and the sponsorship of Banca Popolare, Potenza Assicurazioni, Salewa, Microgate, Finstral and Stuefer Bau. CAI Bolzano also thanks the Bolzano National Alpine Association and Mountain Rescue for their cooperation. For info on hours and openings, see the Bolzano Civic Museum website.

Photographer Stefano Torrione was born in Aosta in 1962. After graduating in political science, he devoted himself exclusively to the profession of photographer, focusing mainly on geographical and ethnographic reportage. Since 1992 he has been a photographer for Epoca and in 1994 he won the Panorama European Kodak Award in Arles (France). Subsequently, he published important reports in many Italian and foreign magazines (National Geographic Italy, Geo, Panorama Travel, Meridiani Montagne, Traveller, Rutas del Mundi...) continuing to travel and witnessing with his photographs the reality of many countries. He has allattivo several monographic publications and has taken part in numerous solo and group exhibitions. Since 2009 he has been developing continuous photographic projects on alpine territories. From these photographic experiences came the publications La grande Guerra Bianca (2018) and Spiriti dinverno (2019), both published by his publishing house Stefano Torrione Editore. He currently lives and works in Milan.

Stefano Torrione, Veneto - Le anguane di Lagole

Stefano Torrione, Piedmont - Il rogo de Lou Fantome

Stefano Torrione, Friuli - By torchlight, the Krampus descend from the woods

Stefano Torrione, Valle d’Aosta - The bonfire on the summit of Mount Emilius on June 29

Stefano Torrione, South Tyrol - The Wudelen on the days of the Egetmann parade in Tramin

Photos on legends and rituals of Alpine peoples on display in Bolzano by Stefano Torrione

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