Riccarda de Eccher: Montagna. The Dolomites at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, USA

Many have compared mountaineers, when they trace new routes up mountains, to artists creating their works of art. I do not know whether this is true…art is perhaps something else. What I do know though is that Riccarda de Eccher, with her watercolour paintings of mountain peaks, of (her) Dolomites, enables me to look beyond the mountains and beyond those physical rock faces. It is as if I manage to make out a soul within those folds, in those tenuous colours. Maybe it's because of the passion. Maybe the vibrations are timeless. Maybe it's the memories. Or simply is because the incomprehensible beauty resounds, loud and clearly. And this is always what art is all about.

Montagna. Mountain. This is the title of Riccarda de Eccher's new exhibition at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art a Charleston, South Carolina, USA from 25 August to 7 October. Twelve new watercolours interpret the visions of Riccarda de Eccher, the alpinist and painter who was born in Bolzano and who after growing up in Udine now lives and works at Long Island, New York. De Eccher’s love for the mountains, for alpinism and art permeates through this exhibition, as she herself explains in this beautiful video portrait (not to be missed!).



Riccarda de Eccher was born in Bolzano and grew up in Udine, Italy. She started painting primarily watercolors later in her life. Her love of mountains has made them the subject of her work. Her works have been exhibited at Casa Cavazzini Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Udine, Italy; Modern Art Gallery Enrico de Cillia, Treppo Carnico, Italy; Gallery ArtCube Paris, France; Sala Esposizioni, Bolzano, Italy. Riccarda de Eccher lives and works at Long Island, New York.

Info: halsey.cofc.edu
Link: www.deeccher.net