Not For Climbing
In mountain climbing, ropes and metal become keys to access the landscape. As equipment evolves, so does our way of engaging with the mountains. ‘Not for Climbing’ explores carabiners and gears as interfaces between humans and their environment. After retracing the industrial process behind carabiner production, Marie de Lavergne de Cerval developed hybrid tools to experience the mountains in different ways.
Through symbolism, altered forms, and anodised colouring, these objects carry layered meanings, reflecting various types of climbers. The climber-dancer moves sensually, using the mountain as a stage. The climber-conqueror pushes towards the summit. The climber-w(o/a)nderer romanticises the natural world, which is far removed from their everyday reality. Rather than functioning as safety devices, these gears and carabiners act as reflective artefacts, questioning how our relation to mountains is shaped. They blur the line between performance and imagination, dream and utility.