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.

Book

Igor Ponti
Looking for Identity
Texts by Pietro Bellasi, Giovanna Calvenzi
English, Italian
2014
136 pp. 59 ills.
28.80×24.70 cm
clothbound
ISBN 978-3-7757-3925-2
Distributed worldwide by Hatje Cantz

Editions

Collector prints are in a total editions of 5 copies + 2 Ap.
Each prints come with a certificate on the back of the print:
title, size, edition number, archive number, print date, technical support, signature.

Lugano, Ticino.
2013
Devil's Stone, Göschenen, Uri.
2013
Elvezio, Calpiogna, Ticino.
2012
Furkastrasse, Furkapass, Wallis.
2013
Furkasapp and Grimselpass, Wallis.
2013
Rhonegletscher, Furkapass, Wallis.
2012
Hangar, Turtmann, Wallis.
2010
Contone, Ticino.
2011
Feldschlösschen, Rheinfelden, Aargau.
2012
Andreas, Fontana, Ticino.
2011
Kreuzlingen, Thurgau.
2010
Lodrino, Ticino.
2012
Swiss Knife Valley, Brunnen, Schwyz.
2012
Kappel, Zürich.
2014
Familiengarten, Altstetten, Zürich.
2014
Bunker, Monte Ceneri, Ticino.
2014
Tree House, Sorengo, Ticino
2014