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A Moment of Reflection: Blatten and the Fragile Future of Our Mountains

Today we witnessed a devastating reminder of our changing climate. The village of Blatten in the Swiss canton of Valais has been almost completely wiped out by a massive glacier collapse and subsequent landslide. First and foremost, our heartfelt thoughts go out to all those affected — to the families who have lost homes, memories, and livelihoods. It is a small mercy that the area had been evacuated in time and no lives were lost, but the scale of destruction is sobering.

👉 See the images of the collapse

Events like this are no longer isolated incidents. As our glaciers retreat and permafrost thaws, mountain slopes become increasingly unstable. Landslides, rockfalls, and flash floods are becoming more frequent — not in decades, but now.

As artists, we feel a responsibility to engage with these realities. Some of the work as part of our Global Warming collection tries to explore the tension between the majesty and vulnerability of alpine landscapes. The layered terrain, fractured forms, and darkening skies speak to the fragility that lies beneath the surface.

Let us not look away.

This is not just about mountains. It is about all of us, and the world we are shaping through our actions.This original Sculptural Watercolour® artwork reflects the precarious beauty of Switzerland’s alpine landscapes. Layered paper and textured washes evoke fractured terrain and looming skies — a visual meditation on the instability caused by glacial retreat and landslides.

Oli May 28, 2025
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