Igor Ponti: Looking for Identity

The Swiss cross comes to mind, the Swiss army knife, the Alps, cheese of course, or perhaps fine chocolate: but just what is typically Swiss? What characterizes the country and its people, and connects the various regions despite their different languages? These questions led Swiss photographer Igor Ponti (*1981), who focuses on traditional and emerging identities, on a cross-canton journey--with the odd detour. He discovers expressive visual Helvetisisms and, in part in a mocking or affectionate way, points out distinctions between the cantons that nevertheless connect them in terms of culture and territory: freeways cut through picturesque landscapes, a massively carved William Tell stands by the wayside, wurst stands sell cervelat or fried sausage, a charming, old wooden house causes one to feel nostalgic, garden gnomes wear red and white, concrete antitank barriers protect the endangered idyll.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 3775739254
• ISBN13: 9783775739252
• Release Date: May 2015
• Publisher: Hatje Cantz
• Length: 136 Pages
• Weight: 2.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 9.6" x 11.2"