Melting Memories

Glacier retreat is both a visible manifestation and a common quantitative indicator of the changes brought about by global warming. But what exactly is disappearing – and what aspects of this are not «measurable» yet remain significant for our understanding of what many Alpine glaciers will have become in the near future? Not least the Dachstein Glacier will soon exist only in memory – present and perceptible through narratives, sensory representations, and the traces they have inscribed in the landscape.

The aim of the project «Melting Memories» is therefore to complement the familiar visual narratives and forms of communication about glacier retreat based on measurable data with a diverse body of cultural knowledge about the glaciers. To this end, the Dachstein Museum at the Austriahütte is currently establishing a participatory long-term project. Various forms of remembered glacier perceptions and experiences can be contributed in the form of found objects, artifacts, photos, stories, interviews, and much more. The collection (and the act of collecting) serves as both the starting point and focal point for regular workshops and residencies, involving local stakeholders, scientific experts – including those from geography and glaciology, archaeology, zoology, and the cultural sciences – as well as artists and guests.