‘The Alps - A Bird’s Eye View’, an exhibition of photographs by Matevž Lenarčič in Bern
July 2012
The official opening of ‘The Alps – A Bird’s Eye View’, an open-air exhibition of photographs by the Slovenian photographer, pilot and environmentalist Matevž Lenarčič, took place at the prestigious Zentrum Paul Klee arts centre in Bern on 1 June 2012.
The exhibition is the fruit of cooperation between the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Bern, the City of Bern and the Zentrum Paul Klee.
The aerial photographs of the Alps from Monaco to Slovenia are exhibited on more than one hundred panels along the promenade beside the Zentrum Paul Klee. The photographs are accompanied by commentaries in German and English. Geographical and environmental information, and ecological, cultural and historical texts are displayed on several additional panels, and a special panel presents the Pipistrel ultralight aircraft from which the photos were taken.
The exhibition is a Slovenian contribution to marking the twentieth anniversary of Swiss recognition of Slovenia and the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries.
The exhibition is undoubtedly having a promotional impact for Slovenia, as it has been seen by many visitors to the Centre, which is a popular local and national attraction. The exhibition very clearly puts Slovenia on the map of Europe in terms of its geographical position and culture. Both the Pipistrel company, which already has an office in Switzerland, and a folding bike launched by the company Studio Moderna, are also being promoted through the exhibition.
Mayor Tschäppät emphasised that the exhibition was the result of the close ties between Ljubljana and Bern, and that the first presentation of the exhibition outside Slovenia is in one of the capitals of the Alpine region. The fact that the Zentrum Paul Klee, which is known for its selectiveness, was prepared to host the exhibition shows its quality, in terms of both the photographic and textual content.
On view until 31 August 2012.
Text by the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Bern
Photo: Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Bern and Matevž Lenarčič
Lenarčič's flight around the world
In January 2012, Matevž Lenarčič, pilot, biologist, photographer and alpinist, set out in a Pipistrel Virus SW 914 aircraft on a 100,000 km multi-stage tour around the world. After some three months, he arrived back in his homeland, richer for a wealth of new experiences, which he summarised in the following words:
“Absolute laws become relative. Life values become clearer. We are not aware enough that we live only in a tiny part of the universe, which is also our only possible solution. If we destroy it, we have nowhere to go.”
On his travels around the world and Slovenia, Matevž Lenarčič gathered enough photographs for many books, not just one. He is the author of 11 books on mountaineering, nature, flying and photography, and many of them have been translated into several world languages.
Among the more known are The Alps – A Bird's-Eye View, which has also been translated into English, Italian and German, Slovenia from Under the Sky, and Around the Only World, which is about the flight around the world Matevž made in 2004.
The book The Alps – A Bird's-Eye View has also been translated into English, Italian and German.
Lenarčič's aviation expeditions
Also promoted through the exhibition
The Pipistrel company and a folding bike launched by the company Studio Moderna were promoted through the exhibition:
- Raising global standards with Pipistrel (November 2011)
Pipistrel has won the NASA award for the most efficient electric aircraft with its Taurus G4. At this year's competition, Pipistrel cooperated with the Penn State University team.
Read more ›
- Pipistrel wins NASA prize for third time in a row (October 2011)
The Pipistrel team from Ajdovščina, Slovenia, was awarded NASA prize for the most energy efficient aircraft. The world’s first ever electric-powered four-seat aircraft, the Taurus G4, won Pipistrel this third consecutive victory.
Read more ›
- A folding bike - practical and ecological (January 2011 )
The concept of the folding of the bike was developed by engineer and innovator Niko Mihelič. The bike has been patented worldwide and is the fruit of Slovenian knowledge and creativity. Simple to use, transport and store.
Read more ›