Alps scarred by tourism industry
Photographer Lois Hechenblaikner exposes the ugly face of winter tourism. The pictures, videos and installations of the Austrian artist - currently on show at the Swiss Alpine Museum in Bern - raise questions about the impact on the alpine environment.
The winter sport industry reveals a cynical attitude towards local traditions and shows a lack of respect for the traditions of the region, according to Hechenblaikner.
The 54-year-old photographer grew up in the Tyrol region and was horrified when he returned to Austria after 20 years.
His pictures are not of a winter wonderland but of the scars left by “tourism mining”. His camera focuses on pylons, tracks, jumps, reservoirs, gaudy bars and all the waste – an alternative to holiday-gloss brochures.
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