"Micheli and Panzeri meticulously analyze the deceptive charm of the evolving visual identity of the Alps, a landscape hanging in the balance between the unstoppable forces of climate change and the echoes of its historical past."
Artist: Mattia Micheli & Nicolò Panzeri
Project: Yes to All
Book published by Emergenze Publishing / Edicola 518 and designed by Hapto Studio
Mattia Micheli Instagram / Website
Nicolò Panzeri Instagram
Book review : Noemi Carrara
"In the midst of mass tourism, globalization, and global warming, “Yes to All” presents a contemporary and disillusioned portrayal of the landscapes of the Alps. Through a documentation of the anthropization of the Alpine cultural identity, the book emphasizes the metamorphosis of the mountainous environment, transitioning from a wild, natural and hostile terrain to an all-inclusive scene where everything is permitted.
The opening image unfolds as a striking picture-postcard capturing the French Alps glacier above Chamonix. Turning the page reveals the same photograph in its entirety, accompanied by a different caption, exposing not just the pristine nature, but also the reality of an overcrowded place with hundreds of people waiting during one of the many events hosted there.
As the mountains increasingly intertwine with urban life, “Yes to All”, by Mattia Micheli and Nicolò Panzeri, published in 2023 by Emergenze Publishing, captures this transformation through distinct form and content decisions. From the embossed cover depicting the hidden side of the Matterhorn to the choice of Fedrigoni slate paper, the book embraces communicative visuals. Fragments of Alpine traditions meld with elements of modernity, including cars, sculpted bodies, ski suits, and bizarre trends in a visual narrative that encapsulates the essence of Alpine capitalism. No longer untouched sanctuaries, the mountains are portrayed as commodities within an economic framework."
"A response to the rampant effects of globalization and the growing impact of mass tourism, the narrative unfolds in the Alps - a natural border dividing eight countries, once an unfriendly territory challenging human intrusion. Today, these territories undergo a dramatic shift as winter transfers into a profitable season, marked by the ascendancy of Alpine capitalism.
Italian writer, journalist and alpinist, Enrico Camanni observes the altered state of the Alps, highlighting “More than any other mountain chain in the world, the Alps can make no claim to being pure and unspoiled. They never have been, at least not since we humans began to live and leave our mark there, and now — after being besieged by tourism and mass culture for multiple decades — they are less so than ever.”
The book vividly juxtaposes grueling natural conditions with the allure of an accessible and glamorous lifestyle, echoing the Alpine paradox. Serving as a self flyleaf book, the use of color in Yes to All corresponds to the featured landscapes. Typography shades refer to snow and ice elements, while the cover and other details borrow hues from the characteristic rock formations of the Aosta Valley and the Western Alps.
Micheli and Panzeri meticulously analyze the deceptive charm of the evolving visual identity of the Alps, a landscape hanging in the balance between the unstoppable forces of climate change and the echoes of its historical past. Carefully curated images within the book showcase the paradoxical coexistence of contemporary elements, intertwined with the echoes of Alpine heritage."
© Mattia Micheli & Nicolò Panzeri published by Emergenze Publishing / Edicola 518
Editor and Text : Noemi Carrara