About the artist

The pictures of the Gotthard Mountains on our website were taken by the internationally acclaimed artist and photographer Jean Odermatt.

"The sky - through its sheer scale - conveys to me every day what is important. In towns and cities, barely any sky can be seen now; the skylines of technological achievement have taken the place of the sky, and they are devoid of yearning. Gazing out into the firmament, however, has time and time again connected me with my own longings and has given me the certainty to connect and to take part."

Jean Odermatt
The artist was born in 1948 in Lucerne, and studied art history, German and French literature, sociology, and folklore at the University of Zurich. Since 1983, his artistic endeavours have focused on one of the most significant regions within the European Alps, the Gotthard Mountains. His Gotthard project comprises an extensive picture archive, a library with texts, sketches, and etchings, and film, theatrical, and sculptural works in the area of the Gotthard Mountains. In the summer of 2002, he opened a cultural centre in the area, which comprises not just a hotel but also a research and academic facility. Further details can be found at:

www.claustra.ch