back

Industrialization and mechanization have not pulled away much ground from the alpine industries. Over another two hundred years the Alps have been battered repeatedly, as much as ever before.

The alpine population is in dire straits. Subvention cuts. Bitterness. Greed. Putting on airs. Narrow-mindedness and stubborn rear-view-mirror-viewing. TV advertisements with traditional alpine beards. Construction zoning wonders and permit magic. Communal autonomy.

All-Wheel-Drive-Drivel

August 29^th 2005, Copper sheet, bone/horn, glass eyes, plastic wheel, h 41cm, w 17cm

The mechanization of alpine industries has brought welcome relief from some of the burdens to the milker,
the cattle tender and the cheese maker.
However, this mechanization causes the farmers to impregnate the spicy fragrant mountain air with exhaust fumes.
Instead of undertaking the nomadic passage from valley over saddle to dairy pasture and back by foot,
these days the all-wheel drive transporter makes milking on the alpine tops just like milking on the valley floors.

Instead of sustainable application optimal industrial utilization. Sales of water rights. Narrow-minded optimization.
Short-term exploitation. Hatred of foreigners makes it easier. Exclusion soothes.

Past is alpine bliss.

The All-Wheel-Drive-Drivel has rendered us restless, emotionally poor and super mobile.
Damned by mobility!

Ueli Dubs

HIGH HEEL SHOES

SHE YEARNED FOR THEM
TO GET TO
THE MOUNTAIN TOP WITH THEM
WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE STEPS

WITH HIGH HEEL SHOES
HOWEVER, ON A MOUNTAIN NO ONE
RISES HIGH,
NOT EVEN THE PRETTIEST OF MISSES

ACTUALLY, AND A BIT CONFUSED,
SHE YEARNS
BUT FOR ONE OF HIGHER STANDING

ONE, A BIT MORE
OH MAN - YOU ARE THE MOUNTAIN

THE REVELATION
HAD ENDED
NOTHING MORE
FALLS FROM THE SKY ONTO THE MOUNTAIN

PARLAMENTS ORDER
LAWS GALORE
GOD’S WRITTEN WORD
HAS LONG CHOCKED AND CROAKED

JAHWE DESCENDED FROM THE MOUNT
TO BE FULLY FLATTENED
ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP
NOTHING REMAINS BUT OZONE

Al Imfeld