Materialities of Obsolescence

A Study of Snow, Seasons and Changing Conditions in the Swiss Alps

The Alps, as a frontier zone of climate change, have to face warmer winters, more unreliable snowfall, changing precipitation patterns and hotter summers. In this project, I aim to study the diverse human adaptations and re-orientations of material, social, economic, (agri)cultural and political nature to climatic changes, meaning the disappearance of snow and winter, in the Swiss alpine region. Along different aggregate states of water, such as snow, artificial snow, ice, snow- and ice melt, rain, lakes and rivers, I aim to understand the relationship of local stakeholders to technology and the significance attributed to technology in the discourse around the climate. Ultimately, this project will consider ideas of the future and questions of progress.