Il pendio bianco. Storia sociale dello sci
Temporary exhibition on the history of skiing, inspired by the graphic novel of the same name by artist Manuel Riz from Val di Fassa
Skiing is much more than a sport: it has been a travelling companion to humankind for thousands of years. Born as a tool for hunting and moving through snowy landscapes, it has gradually become a symbol of freedom, adventure and mountain life. Il pendio bianco. Storia sociale dello sci (The White Slope: A social history of skiing) tells this fascinating story through the fresh, insightful lens of Manuel Riz, a Val di Fassa artist and art teacher at the art school in Pozza. Through original boards and graphic-novel storytelling, Riz weaves together anecdotes, curiosities, and the small and big changes skiing has brought to our valleys and to the Alps. The book was premiered by Diabolo Edizioni at Lucca Comics & Games, Italy's leading comics and pop-culture festival, where it receivedan enthusiastic response from the public.
The exhibition pairs Riz's illustrations with objects, memorabilia and materials from the Ladin Museum and private collections. The result is an enjoyable and surprising journey in which past and present meet through irony, memory and snow culture. It unfolds as a vivid narrative about Alpine communities, tourism, social change, and the ancient - yet ever-present - relationship between people and mountains.
Hosted in the Luigi Heilmann Room of the Ladin Museum of Fassa, the exhibition is also the perfect chance to round off your day with a visit to the museum: admission to the museum is free for Val di Fassa Guest Card holders. A simple invitation to step inside, browse, and let yourself be carried away… even if only in your imagination.
The exhibition is also part of the special projects of the Milano Cortina 2026 Cultural Olympiad and Combinazioni_Caratteri sportivi (Combinations_Sporting Characters), conceived and curated by the Department of Culture of the Autonomous Province of Trento, bringing sport and culture together through a network of museums and cultural institutions across the region.
Opening
On Monday 1 December at 6 p.m., the exhibition will be inaugurated and the book presented with a dedicated round-table discussion. Speakers include the author Manuel Riz, Fiorenzo Perathoner (a key figure in the development of skiing and ski facilities in Val di Fassa), Giorgia Lorenz (national instructor and ski teacher) and Rosa Carpano (hotelier closely tied to the area and Ladin culture). The discussion will be moderated by journalist Silvano Ploner.
