— One subject deeply moves and fascinates me: the mountains. I have been exploring their trails for years. Beyond the passion these landscapes inspire in me, I am also deeply concerned (like many of my contemporaries) about the rapid transformations caused by climate change, which are evident across all mountain ranges. I feel the need to “record” this nature, whose contours will soon change dramatically—we know that the paths we walk today will be dangerous tomorrow, that rocks are collapsing, that ice no longer holds them in place, that speculation tied to the ski industry is disfiguring the valleys, and so on.
To uncover the mysteries of the unique atmosphere found at high altitudes and to capture the extraordinary light seen there, I have chosen to engage in an all-encompassing artistic exploration: sketches drawn on-site, studio paintings, collages, engravings, charcoal drawings, and watercolors. A sort of research laboratory, an attempt to exhaustively document a place, as Georges Perec might say. The idea is to offer a pictorial journey within the exhibition, mirroring the experience of hiking through the mountains.
This project, the result of two years of research, consists of approximately seventy pieces of varying formats, from large panoramic works to small, delicate watercolors. Through this collection, I strive to convey the impressions—fleeting or eternal, yet always powerful and magical—that arise when traveling the steep paths leading to peaks and ridges. Until recently, before it was commercialized, the mountain was a revered, respected, and awe-inspiring place; venturing into it required rituals and ceremonies. I seek to revive that ritual in my own way, through different forms of artistic representation that allow me to approach the sacred essence the mountains offer to those who take the time to contemplate them. —
Nicolas de Crécy
