Topophilia

Topophilia traces the 800-mile route of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline (TAP) and examines one of the most historically productive oil routes in the United States. Completed in 1977, the TAP runs both above and below ground through the pristine Alaskan landscape - over mountain passes, across the tundra and over hundreds of rivers and streams. From numerous production sites in the north, the hot crude oil is transported to the Valdez Marine Terminal, where it is shipped all over the world. Peter Bo Rappmund shot his documentary exclusively with a still camera: frame-by-frame animations, time-lapse photography and loop sequences examine the linearity of a pipeline and create a harmonious image of its repetitive architecture, which appears like a huge building in the (seemingly) untouched environment. Topophilia subtly challenges our notions of landscape and our place in it: an unmistakable juxtaposition between the endgame of the industrial revolution and modern ecosystems. (Jurij Meden)

Introduction by Christian Köberl and Michael Loebenstein

Audio greeting by Peter Bo Rappmund

Photo: Austrian Film Museum