«Vrin – Flüchtige Heimat»

In "Vrin – Flüchtige Heimat", the photographer and creative director Verner Soler, who emigrated to the USA, presents impressive and authentic photographs from the Graubünden mountain village of Vrin, where he grew up. After emigrating from Vrin to Los Angeles in 1990, Soler documented his visits to his parents every summer, whom he helped with farming.

The Romansh title "Bandunar e mai schar dar" — "Leave and never let go" — indicates that he cannot forget his homeland, although he knows that this form of mountain farming will soon no longer exist. The landscape and the village community are also themes of this very personal photo book.

It is not a homesickness book, but Soler has been working for a long time on a "Calender d'encarschadetgna" — a "homesickness calendar". Looking at the photographs and reading the texts, which, like the captions, are written differently in English, German and Sursilvan, we remember our roots and feel with the author how fleeting our homelands have become.

Moderation: Chasper Pult

Photo: Verner Soler