‘Der Künstler des Himmels’ is an ode to beauty, a manifesto of the timeless fusion between extreme athleticism and the natural stage. ‘Der Künstler des Himmels’ – ‘The Artist of the Air’ – is an aerial poem, crafted by paraglider Chrigel Maurer: a contemporary master, a human-bird capable of dominating the Red Bull X-Alps–the pinnacle event of this discipline–for eight consecutive years. And he’s ready to continue this streak.

The visual and narrative exploration by Matteo Pavana and Marco Zanone, supported by Salewa and produced by Luca Mich, introduces us to a painter of the skies— a revolutionary interpreter of a form of sports art where even the strictest boundaries seem to disappear. The analytical approach becomes animal instinct. The unknown means control. Ornithology meets the study of athletic movement. “What stands out immediately when watching Chrigel Maurer is his animalistic approach, paired with his exceptional rationality,” explains filmmaker, mountain storyteller, and passionate paraglider Matteo Pavana. “I find the contrast between his way of flying and his way of thinking about flight incredibly powerful. It lends a certain beauty to the athlete.”

Pavana continues: “When I had the opportunity to meet him, thanks to Salewa, I encountered someone who works a full year ahead of everything. A person deeply focused on their goals. During our first scouting, he showed us his biography and one of the chapters was titled ‘Der Künstler des Himmels’ – ‘The Artist of the Air’. I drew inspiration from it for the production. In the video, I used black and white to highlight the texture of the landscape, and I drew inspiration from ornithography, particularly from the imagery of Xavi Bou. He captures flocks using a precise photographic technique, transforming them into what appear to be paintings. We tried to replicate that technique on a cinematic level. For me, paragliding is one of many ways to experience and enjoy the mountains. I practice it rarely, mostly on climb-and-fly days, because it’s incredibly demanding—it requires deep study and great focus. In Chrigel Maurer’s case, however, it becomes pure beauty, and that’s what I tried to capture.”