Photo exhibition “Ice&Life” presented by the Marge Sauvage association at Hameau Albert 1er Chamonix
A delicious pause in time and space
At Hameau Albert 1er, we are delighted to host a photography exhibition that speaks to the very soul of the mountains—an opportunity to share with our guests and visiting travelers a moment suspended in both time and space.
In the heart of our serene and bucolic enclave, facing Mont Blanc—whose glaciers have borne witness for millennia to the power and fragility of life—the association Marge Sauvage offers its sensitive and scientific perspective on these icy giants and the ecosystems that emerge in their wake.
Marge Sauvage: When science meets Wonder
Born from the passion of glaciologist Jean-Baptiste Bosson, Marge Sauvage embodies a perfect symbiosis between science and wonder. Founded in the summer of 2024, this young public-interest association carries a vision both poetic and committed: to preserve nature through the advancement of scientific knowledge, the creation of new narratives, and advocacy. An approach that deeply resonates with the values of Hameau Albert 1er, which for over 120 years has remained rooted in the respect and celebration of our alpine heritage.
Ice&Life: A photographic journey into the heart of glaciers
This exhibition takes visitors on a true journey through the heart of glaciers and the newly deglaciated zones. The photographs showcase the Ice&Life project, coordinated by Jean-Baptiste Bosson since 2020—a groundbreaking initiative that aims to better protect the 270,000 glaciers across our planet, along with the ecosystems that follow in their retreat.
Each image tells a story—of virgin lands revealed after the glaciers withdraw, sanctuaries where nature reclaims its space in complete freedom.
Alpine biodiversity: Life after the ice
From the outset, a subtle harmony captures the eye. The stark, mineral beauty of the glaciers is met by the gentleness of new ecosystems—these wild margins where rare and protected species bloom. The photographs reveal this unexpected biodiversity colonizing the ground left bare by the receding ice: pioneering rhododendrons, aquatic invertebrates settling in proglacial lakes, life awakening where only the silent stillness of ice once reigned.
This exhibition powerfully illustrates the very philosophy of Marge Sauvage: to rebuild connections between humans and nature, between science and emotion, between wonder and action. An approach that finds a natural and meaningful home at Hameau Albert 1er.
Here too, the parallels with our own family story are clear. For five generations, the Carrier family has observed the evolution of the Chamonix valley and the Mont Blanc massif, bearing witness to the transformations shaping our alpine environment.
Scientific work in service of glacier protection
The photographs are the result of rigorous scientific work carried out in the Alps and around the world. Field campaigns in recently deglaciated areas have yielded unprecedented data, revealing 251 species—34 of which are protected, with some listed on national and European red lists.
Each photograph becomes a precious testimony to nature’s ability to adapt, survive, and flourish in the face of climate upheaval.
Hameau Albert 1er: A perfect setting for a mountain-facing exhibition
Facing Mont Blanc, the Hameau provides the ideal setting for this exhibition. In the artists’ corridor, bathed in natural light and open to the gardens and the massif, our space harmoniously engages with these images that celebrate the mountain in all its complexity.
The exhibition, free and open to all, invites visitors to gain perspective—to ascend, as one would a mountain, toward a better understanding of the challenges we all share.
Jean-Baptiste Bosson, glaciologist and geomorphologist, shares that glaciers are keystones upon which life on Earth depends, influencing global climate, sea levels, and freshwater circulation. His work, published in the prestigious journal Nature in 2023, offers an innovative vision: to protect now the areas glaciers are uncovering, and to anticipate in order to preserve these biodiversity sanctuaries before human impact takes hold.
Environmental commitment: shared values between Hameau Albert 1er and Marge Sauvage
This exhibition is part of our deep commitment to preserving the alpine environment. At Hameau Albert 1er, the words authenticity, commitment, and respect for nature are lived values. We are proud to support this initiative, which underscores the importance of protecting our exceptional glacial heritage—visible from our very windows.
An invitation to discover, to marvel, and to reflect. A necessary pause to contemplate the fragile beauty of these frozen giants and to celebrate the resilience of life.
We invite you to immerse yourself in this universe where science meets poetry, where the urgency of action is expressed through the gentleness of a photographic lens.
At Hameau Albert 1er, the Marge Sauvage exhibition reminds us that we are all guardians of these peaks, these glaciers, this wild nature that gives life to the Chamonix valley. It is together—through respect and wonder—that we can reach new heights of ecological awareness.
Welcome to a world where ice tells the future of life.
And perhaps, after your visit, you’ll never see the mountains the same way again.
