The „Gasser“ Project
Georg Gasser (1857-1931) was a private businessman from Bozen/Bolzano. He is regarded as the actual founder of the Museum of Nature South Tyrol. His legacy – especially the extensive collection of minerals – led to the construction of the museum. In 2007, the Museum celebrated his 150th birthday, while 2006 marks the 200th anniversary of his death. On this occasion, the Museum of Nature planned an exhibition on him and his work. At the same time, a critical biography has been published.
The documents recording Gasser's life are fragmentary, and his legacy has been largely neglected (with the exception of his collection of specimens). For this reason, the topic of “Gasser“ was at the center of a comprehensive museological research project. The project concentrates on three aspects of Gasser's life:
- Gasser's biography
- His scientific approach as affected by materialism and religious sentiments
- Gasser as a painter