Hydroelectric dam features mural to commemorate military retreat

Swiss artist Martin Valär has painted a massive mural on the Panix hydroelectric dam in eastern Switzerland to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the retreat of Russian General Suvorov from Napoleonic forces.

Swiss artist Martin Valär has painted a massive mural on the Panix hydroelectric dam in eastern Switzerland to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the retreat of Russian General Suvorov from Napoleonic forces.

The nearby village of Pigniu will mark the retreat of Suvorov’s troops this coming weekend, when the painting will be officially dedicated.

“I have always wanted to paint something panoramic on a massive hydroelectric dam,” said Valär. “I like the idea of turning a wall into a huge painting.”

It took the regional artist about 30 days to complete the mural on the 50m high wall. There are three levels of retreating Russian soldiers as well as Gen. Suvorov, who is displayed as a king who has been manoeuvred into a hopeless position.

Valär said he also used some visual elements reminiscent of a chessboard to symbolise the idea of Europe as a battleground and region of conflict.

“The real heroes to me are the soldiers, not Suvorov,” said Valär, referring to the fact that about 6,000 soldiers died from hunger, exhaustion or hypothermia during the 1799 retreat across the Panix mountain pass, which reaches up to an altitude of 2470m.

The retreat marked a major defeat for Suvorov, who was part of a plan by Russia, Austria and Britain to push back the Napoleonic forces from positions in French-occupied Switzerland.

Suvorov was told to cross the Alps from Italy into Switzerland, where he was to link up with allied forces and then attack the French. But the plan failed as the French troops pushed back the very troops that should have supported Suvorov’s units.

In light of the military defeat of his allied forces, Suvorov and his officers decided to retreat through hostile mountain territory.

Valär said he initiated the mural himself and, so far, had not received an payment or compensation for the SFr20,000 ($13,333) in costs.


Written by SRI staff.