ELEVATION 1049: ENERGIES
Exhibition: February 1–March 16, 2025; Gstaad
With
Nina Canell / Robin Watkins
Liu Chuang
Louisa Gagliardi
Nikita Gale
Ximena Garrido-Lecca
Theaster Gates
Jean Katambayi Mukendi
Saba Khan / Pak Khawateen Painting Club
Maria Loizidou
Vibeke Mascini
Haroon Mirza
Himali Singh Soin
Oscar Tuazon
The 6th edition of Elevation 1049 opens on February 1, 2025, in and around Gstaad. Centred on the concept of Energies, the Luma Foundation has invited Stefanie Hessler, Director of Swiss Institute in New York, as guest curator. Featuring works by 13 artists and collectives, the exhibition spans two indoor venues—the Carpentry in Schönried and the Station in Saanen, Gstaad—and includes new commissions and outdoor installations.
Climate change is acutely felt in the Swiss Alps, where snow cover duration has decreased by 38 days since 1970. Globally, the impacts of global warming are evident in infrastructure disruptions caused by extreme weather, along with the ecological effects of carbon emissions, fossil fuel extraction, competing geopolitical interests, energy poverty, and unevenly distributed green energy futures—all of which demand a rethinking of our relationship with energy.
The exhibition explores global energy issues through a diverse array of international artistic perspectives, highlighting how these challenges manifest differently in geographically distinct yet interconnected regions. Together, the artists propose critical, poetic, and innovative approaches to imagining cautiously optimistic, community-driven energy futures.
Elevation 1049: Energies is conceived and produced by LUMA Foundation with guest curator Stefanie Hessler, Director of Swiss Institute New York.
