Photographer Stefano Zardini brings the spirit of the Alps to the city with “A Visionary at Altitude,” a key cultural event for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
This winter, Milan transforms into far more than just a sporting hub. As the world gathers for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Games, the city is building a cultural bridge to the peaks. From February 13 to April 13, the iconic Fabbrica del Vapore hosts “A Visionary at Altitude – N vijionar sö alalt,” an exhibition celebrating the work of Stefano Zardini, a photographer who redefined how we perceive the mountains.
An Artistic Trilogy at Altitude
The exhibition presents the complete trilogy of Zardini’s most powerful works. The journey connects Milan’s urban energy with the silent majesty of the Dolomites, guiding visitors through three distinct themes.
First, The Pioneers’ Passion breathes new life into historic family photographic archives. Zardini utilized pop colors and graphic effects to transform vintage black-and-white shots of early skiers and bobsledders into modern icons. It is a tribute to the “pioneering spirit” that led to the first Cortina Olympics in 1956 and continues today with Milano-Cortina 2026.
Provocation and the Purity of Snow
The second part of the showcase, Snowland, offers a sharp look at contemporary mountain life. Zardini treats the Dolomites—a UNESCO World Heritage site—as a giant “theme park.” The artist poses a provocative question: has the mountain changed, or has our way of visiting it? It is a visual reflection on the delicate balance between nature and tourism.
Finally, Tracce (Traces) explores the most intimate side of the landscape. Here, snow serves as the artist’s blank canvas. Zardini captures the lines left behind by skiers, creating a constantly mutating texture. These “traces” represent human impact on the environment in its most poetic form.
Milano-Cortina 2026: a bridge between Cities and Peaks
This project stands as a fundamental pillar of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Cultural Olympiad. The initiative ideally unites the Province of Bolzano, the Municipality of Cortina, and the Milanese creative community. Renowned set designers Margherita Palli and Alessandro Pedretti curated the immersive installation, involving students from the NABA Academy to create a dynamic and collaborative exhibition space.
Furthermore, the exhibition title pays homage to the Ladin language, reflecting Zardini’s deep roots in mountain culture. Through these images, Fabbrica del Vapore bridges the gap between different geographical contexts. The languages of art and sport thus celebrate the union between the metropolis and the Dolomite peaks on the occasion of Milano-Cortina 2026.
