Illustrations by Nicola Magrin

    If I say mountains I think of infinity: the thought arrives where the gaze cannot linger  

I was a grown-up child when I learned the story of ‘Heidi’, the afternoon TV animation series, discovered in one of the various replicas. I liked it (still like it). I identified with its curious vivacity; she laughed and was angry about small everyday events. Simple stories made of essential things: grandfather’s affection, milk, cheese, goats and Peter. His world belongs to the mountain! And as the song says, ‘the mountains smile…’                                                         

I approached the mountain as a child, on vacation. A ‘relative’ contact but it was enough to love it immediately.I now find myself living near the Biella Pre-alps (in Piedmont) after having lived in some cities in northern Italy. From the windows of the house I see the profile of the mountains: they are my reference point in the morning and after sunset  (and with starry nights at full moon). Eyes looking and heart feeling and often I am surprised how the feeling of beauty can fill you and make you feel grateful to be part of it, in the silence… In my being rebellious and not very adaptable, only the mountain can transmit me something unique in its ‘grandeur’ in a satisfying tranquility.

I love the mountain for its morphology and extreme forms, its austerity, the colors it takes with light and darkness, in the different seasons, the forest mantle, green meadows and pools of water, hidden animals, the intense color of flowers: the blue gentian, the white alabaster of the alpine stars, the berries among the paths, the huts, the pastures and the trees… I love the fir tree for its shape-color-perfume and also the pine cones! 

I love the mountain for its morphology and extreme forms, its austerity, the colors it takes with light and darkness, in the different seasons, the forest mantle the green meadows and pools of water, the hidden animals, the intense color of the flowers: the blue gentian the white alabaster of the alpine stars, the berries among the paths, the huts, the pastures and the trees… I love the fir tree for its shape-color-perfume and its pine cones! The mountain like a huge stone that has a mountain of things to say. It ‘tells’ us about the depth of time, its presence, the origin of matter that is common to the stars. With the movement of head-eyes-heart every step is a psychophysical panacea; the air inebriates us with the same essential oils, released by plants, in feelings of well-being (production of endorphins)…