Hechenblaikner:Ischgl

Ischgl in Tyrol, one of the best ski resorts in the Alps and a stronghold of event culture, became a hub for the spread of Covid-19 across Europe. Lois Hechenblaikner's haunting images of this unrestrained and uninhibited vacation world suggest how the virus could spread so rapidly in a region that boasts such an extravagant après-ski culture. Here, excess is not the exception but the rule. Hechenblaikner was in the midst of these partying people with his camera, but also behind the scenes of the alpine festivities. He photographed snowmaking systems and construction sites of storage lakes, captured après-ski huts during the day, and documented the computer-controlled pump and dispensing systems for beer, mulled wine, and schnapps in the beverage cellars. With his expressive photographic documentation, he engages in photographic cultural sociology and allows for an unvarnished view.