ZHdK Research Tours

Join research-driven tours offering exclusive behind-the-scenes access to unique locations across the city, guided by emerging curators.

Maria Sorensen

ZHdK Research Tours The Most Beautiful… art walk

Description:

For centuries, glaciers were imagined as distant and enigmatic realms—mysterious, untamed and hounded by ghosts. In literature and popular imagination alike, they appeared as eerie, uncharted zones deep within the Alps. This multifaceted theme is explored across three exhibitions, each approaching the subject from a distinct perspective: artistic, scientific, and literary.

Our journey begins at the Collegium Helveticum, where through film and photography glaciers are presented as living archives, silently preserving traces of both human and planetary histories. We then move to the ETH Graphische Sammlung—one of Switzerland’s most important art collections of prints and drawings—where we encounter the remarkable works of Caspar Wolf (1735–1783). Renowned for his dramatic Alpine scenes, Wolf ventured into glaciated landscapes that were, at the time, largely unexplored. Today, his paintings not only captivate viewers but also serve as valuable references for researchers studying historical glacier extents.

The exhibition as a whole offers something for everyone: admirers of Switzerland’s majestic landscapes and those drawn to the refined artistry of drawing around 1800 alike will find much to appreciate. At extract at ETH, the focus shifts to the present, addressing the pressing challenges faced by melting glaciers in an era of climate change.

The tour concludes at the Helmhaus, where, in harmony with our overarching theme, we visit The Most Beautiful Swiss Books exhibition—an annual celebration of excellence in book design and production.

Meeting point: Collegium Helveticum ETH

2 hours | EN

Bio

Maria Sorensen is an art curator, writer and a cultural analyst. Her practice unfolds at the intersection of art, politics, history, and cultural observation. Her writing has been published by Kunstmuseum Bern, London-based Index on Censorship, Berlin-based On Curating and ZHdK Curatorial Studies publication T. 439. In August-September she is curating an exhibition of Swiss printmaking artist Maya Giesser inspired by Bulgakov’s novel Master and Margarita.