Alpenmadonna

A gaze that transcends centuries, and intricately carved wood that tells stories of times long past: with his compelling artistic project “Alpenmadonna” (Alpine Madonna), South Tyrolean photographer and artist Peter Unterthurner invites visitors on an extraordinary visual journey through the Alpine region.

The inspiration behind the photographic series came from his encounter with the Pacher Madonna, housed in the Diocesan Museum in Brixen. In search of other Alpine Madonnas, his journey took him through Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Slovenia. Unterthurner discovered and photographed 40 remarkable sculptures in some of Europe’s most prestigious collections. The result offers a fascinating perspective on more than 800 years of Alpine Madonna history. The photographs strikingly reflect the major turning points in art history – from Romanticism and Gothic art to the Early Baroque – while also offering a glimpse into the deepest human emotions and longings.

What makes Unterthurner’s work truly distinctive, however, is his unique visual language. Through his masterful use of light and perspective, he photographs the Marian statues in such a way that they take on an astonishing sense of vitality. In doing so, the artist and photographer creates a unique contemporary interpretation of Marian imagery, freeing sacred art from the dust of centuries and making it accessible to the modern eye.

With Alpenmadonna, Unterthurner thus builds a moving bridge between Alpine tradition, profound spirituality and contemporary fine-art photography.

The exhibition Alpenmadonna will open at MMM Ripa on 4 December 2026, marking the beginning of the winter season of the museum. An artist talk with Peter Unterthurner, curator Agathe Fischnaller and museum director Magdalena Messner will follow in February 2027.