Chesa Planta, Samedan – Foto: Andrea Klainguti, Fundaziun de Planta Samedan, 2021
When you say Engadin, you say light. The Alpine high valley between Maloja and S-chanf, between Samedan and the Bernina Pass is known for its unique, exceptionally radiant light. In summer it is mirrored in the lakes, in winter it is reflected by the snow-covered mountains. It permeates the landscape and creates special moods any time of the year. Light has to do with space and time, with physics - and with pleasure. It affects the human senses, enables us to see and creates colors. It has a variety of symbolic and religious meanings. Light is immaterial and yet has tangible consequences, it enchants and enraptures, heals and wounds, clarifies and blinds. The Upper Engadine offers this special light and, vice versa, this light here has a formative social effect: it is part of the regional identity and has a major influence on politics, the economy, nature, the environment and tourism. But where there is light, there is shadow. Contrasts arise where light meets darkness, where splendor meets obscurity.
Joint Exhibition
In a joint exhibition, 14 Upper Engadin houses want to develop the theme: From art to architecture, from language to philosophy, from alpinism to everyday culture, this Engadin light and its shadow will be explored. Each house will have a different focus - from sunglasses to windows, from alpine light phenomena to the design of a health resort, from literary light to the magic of light in the dark, from digital immersion to the analog repertoire of light and shadow, from the sun to the natural and artificial light of the night. We see the paths between our houses as an invitation to discover the Engadin playfully by walking, cycling, taking the bus or train, and to gather your own experiences of light.
In manuscripts by Friedrich Nietzsche and paintings by Engadin artists
Nietzsche-Haus, Sils Maria
Giovanni Segantini
The whole repertoire of light and shadow
Segantini Museum, St. Moritz
bin hase am frisch verschneiten hang
Literature as Experience
Sils Museum, Sils
Special Exhibition
In the context of the exhibition Splendur e sumbriva - Light and Shadow in the Engadin, special events will take place at various locations. They will be communicated in our newsletter and our social media channels.
Light From the perspective of art, medicine and industry: Science Café
Hotel Walther, Pontresina
How does it work?
Admission can be paid individually in each house and is based on the applicable prices. In addition, multiple tickets can be purchased which are valid in all houses for one season. These can be obtained as vouchers. Guided tours are charged extra (even where they are obligatory).
3 admissions: Museums St. Moritz CHF 36.00 / Museums Engadin CHF 24
4 admission: Museums St. Moritz CHF 48.00
5 admissions: Museums Engadin CHF 40
Arrangements can also be booked at various hotels, which include permanent tickets for all 14 locations, plus the Camera Obscura Bernina.
Hotels and Culture
Culture, enjoyment and accommodation in unique Engadin hotels. The Chesas da cultura Engiadina have joined forces with selected hotels in the Upper Engadine.
The packages include a year-round season ticket for all cultural venues involved in the Splendur e sumbriva project as well as an invitation to the week's special events such as vernissages, aperitifs and guided tours. The respective conditions of the of the participating hotels apply.
The major joint project of 15 Engadin cultural institutions "Splendur e sumbriva - light and shadow in the Engadin" could not have been realized without the extensive and ongoing support from many sides. This includes financial contributions to the project on the one hand, but also long-term support in word and deed.
We would particularly like to thank our public sector partners at the Graubünden Office for Culture, the Graubünden Museums Association (museums and cultural tourism), the Maloja region and the municipalities of the Engadin, namely: St. Moritz, Celerina, Pontresina, La Punt, Sils /Segl, Bever, S-chanf, Bregaglia and Samedan.
Many foundations and donors have also supported us, with many thanks to the UBS Cultural Foundation, the Ernst Göhner Foundation, the Biblioteca Engiadinaisa, the GKB Contribution Fund, the Kultur im Waldhaus Sils Foundation, the Otto Gamma Foundation, the Hans and Liliane Kiener Foundation, the Tino Walz Foundation and FA Repower.
Our media partners are the Engadiner Post / Posta Ladina and Piz Magazin. The Lia Rumantscha has helped us with translations into Romansh. And the Hotel Bernina Samedan is supporting our vernissage.
On behalf of the Chesas da cultura Engiadina association, we would like to say a big thank you and grazcha fich!
