ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Osservatorio Cortina 2021: Photographic Research on Alpine Landscape

publication · 2026-05-03

In 2017, photographers Marina Caneve and Gianpaolo Arena launched a three-year project dubbed Osservatorio Cortina 2021, focusing on the impact of major sports events on mountainous regions. Their work culminated amid the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to depict the uniqueness of the Cortina valley's landscape without relying on clichés. Despite setbacks such as the delayed bid for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics, the duo remained committed to their vision. Their findings are compiled in the 2021 publication 'La Valle, tra le cime e le stelle,' which examines the interplay between nature, culture, and tourism in the region, highlighting sites like Cinque Torri and Tofane.

Key facts

  • Osservatorio Cortina 2021 started in 2017, three years before the 2021 World Ski Championships.
  • The project is a photographic investigation of the Cortina valley landscape and its changes.
  • The research lasted three years, culminating during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The book 'La Valle, tra le cime e le stelle' was published by Quodlibet in 2021.
  • The project was produced by Vulcano Agency in synergy with Fondazione Cortina 2021.
  • The Municipality of Cortina provided patronage, and Altitudo gave support.
  • The 2021 World Ski Championships were held without spectators due to the pandemic.
  • The artists aimed to avoid iconic representations and instead offer new interpretive keys.
  • The work focuses on the relationship between nature, culture, and large sporting events.
  • The photographs were taken collaboratively, sometimes using different cameras.

Entities

Artists

  • Marina Caneve
  • Gianpaolo Arena

Institutions

  • Fondazione Cortina 2021
  • Vulcano Agency
  • Quodlibet
  • Comune di Cortina
  • Altitudo
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Cortina d'Ampezzo
  • Italy
  • Dolomites
  • Vajont
  • Milan
  • Cortina 2026
  • Forcella Ra Valles
  • Pian Ra Valles
  • Cinque Torri
  • Tofane
  • Pelmo

Sources