TRIANGLE is a proposal for a site-specific light installation for the Mont Blanc Massif. Three intense rays of light will temporary link the Aiguille du Midi, the summit of Grand Dru and the Grandes Jorasses on one plane. This monumental triangle, covering an area of 24km², is located horizontally on an altitude of 3750m above the Mer de Glace.

The compelling contrast between the clean white lines and the complex geometry of the mountains will enable the viewer to grasp and understand the landscape in a completely new way. Associating this elemental geometrical shape with the enormous Massif suddenly structures the space, making its power appreciable.

TRIANGLE will be visible to all, from anywhere in the valley, from the historic vantage points of Chamonix or from the Massif itself, its clarity determined by the prevailing atmospheric conditions. It may be magically veiled in clouds, it may disappear and reappear. ­TRIANGLE is a creation of pure beauty, an esthetic experience to be lived.

It is obvious that no graphic document can approach the physically felt experience of the real Triangle at full scale. Since the project began, over 2,000 study drawings have been made. These are not just presentation drawings, but work created between daydreaming and research. The essence of this oeuvre is that it tries to anticipate the experience and meaning of the realised Triangle.

Each drawing shows a different aspect of the work. The enormous dimensions of Triangle are revealed, as are the contrasts between elemental geometric shapes and the mountains, the position of man in relation to nature, and our relationship with the glacier. All the graphic works together form an expanding universe of thoughts. The basic geometric shape, the triangle, works as the central idea, unexpectedly creating new associations.

TRIANGLE, though simple in concept (a geometric shape formed by laser light beams) is a technically highly complex artwork. It requires the combination of exceptional precision using yet-to-be-developed optical technology along with a challenging installation on the peaks of three of Europe’s most formidable mountains, extremely difficult of access. Our multidisciplinary approach will bring together glaciologists, scientists, engineers, local authorities, mountain guides, climbers and designers to achieve this feat.

A test to project a laser beam in real conditions above the Mer de Glace was necessary to study the behaviour of the beam at an altitude of 3750m and over a distance of several kilometres. Both the rarefaction of the air and its purity have a direct influence on the brightness of the beam which is the essential element of TRIANGLE. Calibrating the necessary strength and identifying the influence of colour objectively through scientific measurement enabled us to define the parameters necessary for visibility from different vantage points.

The Mont-Blanc Massif and the Mer de Glace glacier have been captivating people for centuries. Probably already in prehistoric times, and certainly since its early days as an art object in the 18th century and its role as the birthplace of glaciology in the 19th century, this glacier has always been a source of wonder and inspiration. However, today it serves as a striking symbol of the devastating impact that humans are having on our planet. The Art project TRIANGLE presents a spatial synthesis of this situation in a powerful and impactful way.

TRIANGLE connects not only the three summits but also stories, disciplines, ideas, and above all, people. TRIANGLE is a social sculpture, an ongoing process that helps us reflect on the mountains and understand their aspects from a different perspective. TRIANGLE is a tool for communication, collaboration, and learning among different groups of people.

What is unseen today, already exists in our imagination: TRIANGLE exists before being realized. Through drawings, texts, a book, meetings, interviews, site visits and mock-up installations, we can imagine TRIANGLE floating above the melting glacier Mer de Glace.

The idea of creating a light installation in the Mont Blanc Massif was born in 2017. In 2019, the project was informally presented to a few Chamonix Mountain Guides. Bolstered by their enthusiasm, a first exchange took place with Chamonix city councilors in July 2020.

In September 2020, authorization was given to carry out a large-scale test in situ, in the high mountains. The exciting results were incorporated into a project brief released in November 2020.  In September 2021, we were invited by the Mayor to present the project to the committee of elected officials. Despite the enthusiastic reception, no firm commitment was made at the time.

It was then decided that the project, until then shrouded in a secrecy, should be unveiled. Today, Triangle has entered another dynamic. A dynamic that is public, and that we want to share. News about on new Triangle installations, research, debates, lectures, expositions, workshops and will be shown on this website.

Since 2019, a growing number of professionals have joined TRIANGLE. The realization of Triangle is becoming increasingly feasible thanks to continuous research and a growing network of experts with diverse disciplinary backgrounds. Currently, a core team of 40 people contributes to the progress of the project and more than 250 people regularly follow its development.

A direct consequence of this growing enthusiasm and commitment on the part of many led to the founding of the non-profit organization “La Compagnie du Triangle”. La Compagnie du Triangle is an international and multidisciplinary organization headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. It generates a platform for the realization of the artistic project “Triangle Chamonix”, enhances knowledge and raises awareness of all topics related to melting glaciers and climate change.

The original idea “Triangle Chamonix” by artist-architect Jan De Coninck, all documents and activities resulting from it, and this organization together form the artwork “TRIANGLE”.