Tokyo (SCCIJ) – Light is hope! The famous Swiss winter sports resort of Zermatt, deserted due to the pandemic, is turning the Matterhorn into a symbol of hope in difficult times: At night and in the early morning, an artist casts light with encouraging messages for several hours on this striking Swiss landmark.
With the illumination of the Matterhorn, Zermatt is sending a sign of hope to the world (© Light Art by Gerry Hofstetter / Photo Zermatt Tourism)
Messages to the world
With this action, Zermatt wants to give people a sign of hope and solidarity in these difficult times. The messages on the mountain are supposed to demonstrate solidarity with all people who are currently suffering. For example, the lettering “Hope” or the square Swiss flag with the white cross on a red background appears on the rock massif. The light messages are also conveying gratefulness to all people who are helping to overcome the crisis.
On April 15, the Matterhorn featured the Japanese national flag (© Light Art by Gerry Hofstetter / Foto Gabriel Perren)
Sister cities
Switzerland and Japan have maintained a close exchange for many decades. With Myoko and Fujikawaguchiko, Zermatt has two sister cities in the land of the rising sun. The famous Swiss resort greeted its Japanese friends, partners and guests by putting the Japanese national flag on the Matterhorn on April 15.
Message: Stay home (© Light Art by Gerry Hofstetter / Photo Michael Kessler)
Broadcasted images
The village has commissioned the Swiss light artist Gerry Hofstetter with the illumination of the Matterhorn – initially daily between sunset and 23:00, now daily between 4:00 and 6:00 am. Due to the current position of the moon, the projections are somewhat dimmed. The webcams around the Matterhorn transmit the live images of the projections in high quality on zermatt.ch/hope. Since 1999, Hofstetter has been transforming buildings, monuments, landscapes and mountains around the world into temporary art objects.
Light is hope (© Light Art by Gerry Hofstetter / Photo Gabriel Perren).
As strong as a mountain
“The Matterhorn has always stood as a symbol of Switzerland as well as a place of strength and stability,” the town said. “Zermatt is convinced: As strong as the Matterhorn, so strong must society now stand together, be anchored and let the storm pass”. The campaign is scheduled to run until April 19th, weather conditions permitting.
Support for Italy: We get through this difficult time by helping each other (© Light Art by Gerry Hofstetter / Photo Zermatt Tourism)
Suspended tourism
Zermatt, with beds for more than 13,000 guests, would have expected fully booked quarters at Easter time. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, tourism has been completely suspended. Measured by the size of the population, more coronavirus infections have been detected in Switzerland than in Italy. Federal Councillor Alain Berset has called for solidarity from the Swiss people during the Corona crisis.
We/nous/noi/nus: Together with responsibility and solidarity (© Light Art by Gerry Hofstetter / Photo Zermatt Tourism)
Text: SCCIJ with material of Zermatt Tourism
