Book presentation

We are pleased to invite you to the book presentation of the last two ILEA Books at our publisher Vexer Verlag in Berlin:
#1: LEARNING FROM THE EARTH (2023)
#2: WHAT IF? LETTERS TO THE FUTURE (2024)
With an aperitif and presentation of the themes, selected art projects, reading of selected texts. With editor Johannes M. Hedinger and guests.

Fri 24. Jan 6-8pm
Vexer Verlag Berlin Office
Gneisenaustrasse 54
D – 10961 Berlin
www.vexer.ch

The following ILEA publications are available at Vexer:
– What if? Letters to the Future (2024)   LINK
– Learning from the Earth (2023)           LINK
– Mass Movements (2021)                    LINK
– Landscape #1 (2020)                          LINK

Review / Preview

SEASON’S GREETINGS to our friends, collaborators, partners, alumni, accomplices, visitors/readers and all interested parties.
We wish you some peaceful days with your loved ones and a happy New Year. Let’s hope for less chaos and disasters and a positive change towards a better world.
There are also some changes coming to the Institute and the Biennale.

REVIEW 2024:
In January, ILEA researcher Dominik Landwehr published an essay in the journal “Schweizerisches Archiv für Volkskunde” on the ongoing research project “Safientaler Gespräche”.
Also in January the last part of the indo-swiss exchange program EAE (Environmental Art Exchange, funded by Pro Helvetia) took place in Goa with a residency of the ILEA alumni artist duo Badel/Sarbach.
End of March closed the exhibition “Grass Stories” by Dharmendra Prasad at ILEA Gallery at Berghotel Alpenblick in Tenna.
In June the transdisciplinary artistic research project “River Landscapes”, of which ILEA is part of, was kicked off at the Zurich Art Weekend with performances and talks. Funded by Pro Helvetia Synergies Grant, this 2 yearlong research project creates a new glossary which acknowledges rivers as landscapes shared by many species and cultures.
Also in June we had to say goodbye to alumni Ben Vautier (18.7.1935 – 5.6.2024).
In July the 5th Art Safiental Biennale kicked off under the title “What if? Songs from Tomorrowlands“, and run until Oct 20. 15 productions by artists from 12 nations took a critical look at possible futures and our world in transition. For the first time, four co-curators were responsible for the biennial. In addition to the founder and artistic director Johannes M. Hedinger, these were Anne-Laure Franchette, Josiane Imhasly and Joanna Lesnierowska. During the opening (5.-7.7.) and on three days in July, Aug and Sept several temporary performances took place in the valley.
Thanks to the continuing cooperation with Pro Helvetia Delhi we were able to host again two artists from India in the ILEA Residency in Tenna: Farah Mulla (June-July) and Sujit Mallik (July-Aug). Both were also included in the Art Safiental Biennale. Farah Mullah also represented ILEA in a group show at Cularta in Laax.
Due to insufficient funding, this year’s Alps Art Academy and symposium unfortunately had to be canceled. However, it was possible to include most of the invited experts in the enlarged publication ILEA Book 2: “What if? Letters to the future” (Vexer Verlag), which was presented at the finissage of the Biennale.
In October ILEA was invited for the Conference „Land Art Lives“ in Lelystad NL (Oct 3/4).
End of October the exhibition “Spatial Solidarities” by Studio Other Spaces closed at the Gelbes Haus in Flims, where ILEA was represented with the ongoing eco-acoustic artistic research project ACLA by Marcus Maeder.
In November ILEA Book 2: “What if? Letters to the future” was officially launched in the frame of the Futurological Congress (Nov 29/30) at Löwenbräukunst Zürich with a performative reading by Ishita Chakraborty.
In December, another book presentation and reading took place at the Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK, together with a lecture on art in the periphery.

PREVIEW 2025:
As of 1 January 2025, the sponsorship of Art Safiental Biennale and Alps Art Academy will be handed over from the Beverin Nature Park (in cooperation with the municipality of Safiental and Safiental Tourism) to the newly founded association (Verein) “Art Safiental”. Johannes M. Hedinger, director of both, the Biennale and the Academy for around 10 years, will leave the two initiatives he founded at the end of 2024. From 2025 he will focus on leading the ILEA (Institute for Land and Environmental Art) research center, which is moving to Zurich after 5 years based in Tenna. Both the ILEA Institute and the new Art Safiental association will realign themselves in the coming months and provide information when the time comes. Official communiqué: https://ilea.art/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/offizielles-communique-AS-ILEA-8.24.pdf
What is already lined up:
On Jan 24 6pm there will be another book launch for the ILEA Book2 (What if? Letters to the future) with readings at Vexer Publisher in Berlin.
In February ILEA is attending with the research project “River Landscape” att a conference at the Science Gallery in Bengaluru in India.
And for early summer and fall ILEA is planning two symposia.
Details will be shared in the next newsletter, on our website www.ilea.art and on our instagram channel.
Here’s to new ideas, shared moments, and exciting collaborations in 2025! We are looking forward to reconnect and wishing you a hopeful start to the New Year.

Book presentations ZHdK

We would like to invite you to the book presentations:
WHAT IF? LETTERS TO THE FUTURE (Vexer Publisher, 2024)
With aperitif and readings from our authors Hayat Erdogan, Damian Christinger and Johannes M. Hedinger

Thu Dec 5, 17-19.00
ZHdK Zurich University of the Arts, Room 4.T09
Toni Areal, Pfingstweidstr. 96, 8005 Zürich

The previous ILEA publications are also available:
– Learning from the Earth (2023)
– Mass Movements (2021)
– Landscape #1 (2020)
All in cooperation with the art book publisher
Vexer Verlag St.Gallen/Berlin

Futorological Congress

Successful launch of the new ILEA Publication at the Futurological Congress (Futures of Care) Nov 29./30. at Löwenbräukunst Zürich, organized by Julieta Aranda, Mareike Dittmer and Martina Huber/AIA; with a performative reading by one of our authors: Ishita Chakraborty.
Further contributions by Adnan Hadzi, Athina Maria, Ethel Baranoa Pohl, Giulia Bini, Ingo Niermann, ulieta Aranda, Lucia Pietroiusti, Mareike Dittmer, Martina Huber, Maya Minder, Mónica Bello, Nikita Dhawan, Radical Care Initiative, Ren Britton, Taskforce 2123, Uriel Orlow and many others.
E-Flux Recordings will be available from Dec 10th. Link for registration.

The new ILEA Book is out

Fresh from the printers: we are pleased to present you the latest ILEA book:

WHAT IF? Letter to the Future.
(ILEA Book 2, 204 pages. DE/EN; ISBN: 978-3-907112-87-8, CHF 20.-)
available via Vexer Verlag St.Gallen / Berlin

What if? – Freedom of thought and the power of renewal begin with this simple question. The letters to the future collected here are not prophecies but reflect a world in upheaval between hope and horror, transformation and speculation, they are also full of enthusiasm for the future. These ideas and thoughts from visionary people who call on us to use our mind and creativity to create a livable and sustainable future for everyone.

Essays: Ravi Agarwal, Annemarie Bucher, Ishita Chakraborty, Damian Christinger, Magali Dougoud, Hayat Erdoğan, Anne-Laure Franchette, Johannes M. Hedinger, Kim de l’Horizon, Josiane Imhasly, Monica Ursina Jäger, Dominik Landwehr, Joanna Leśnierowska, Paulina Lopez, Harald Welzer, André Wilkens.
Dossier: Marc Augé, Octavia E. Butler, David Graeber, Donna Haraway, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Roman Krznaric, Ursula K. Le Guin, Lesley Lokko, Achille Mbembe, Milo Rau, Nikolaj Schultz, Vandana Shiva, Edward Snowden, Rebecca Solnit, Greta Thunberg, Anne L. Tsing, Slavoj Žižek and others.
Artworks: Ravi Agarwal und Paulina Lopez, Paloma Ayala, Magali Dougoud, Hemauer/Keller, Monica Ursina Jäger, Ola Maciejewska, Sujit Mallik, Vibeke Mascini, Farah Mulla, Ernesto Neto, QUARTO, Stefanie Salzman, Renae Shadler, Andrea Todisco, Huhtamaki Wab.
Credits: Editor: ILEA, Johannes M. Hedinger; editorial work: Hendrick Krone
Design: Alltag Agentur, Philip Bührer; Layout: Rachel Kühne
Publisher: Vexer St.Gallen / Berlin; ISBN: 978-3-907112-87-8
> detailed information

We would also like to invite you to the first two book presentations:

Sat Nov 30 – 18.00
as part of the Futurological Congress, Löwenbräu Kunst, Zurich
With performative reading by Ishita Chakraborty
Program details and registration:
https://www.weareaia.ch/de/the-9th-futurological-congress/

Thu Dec 5 – 17-19.00
ZHdK Zurich University of the Arts, Room 4.T09
Toni Areal, Pfingstweidstr. 96, 8005 Zürich
With aperitif and readings by Hayat Erdogan, Damian Christinger and Johannes Hedinger

Fri Jan 24 2025 – 18.00
Vexer Verlag Berlin, Gneisenaustr. 54, 10961 Berlin
details follow

Ernesto Neto Docu

The video documentation of Ernesto Neto’s performance FROM EARTH TO EARTH, shown for the first time at the finissage, is now available on YouTube.

Closing Event

Sunday October 20th, 11-16:00, in and around the Berghotel Alpenblick

11:00
Book presentation ILEA BOOK2: “What if? Letters to the Future”
Author talk with Ishita Chakraborty and Annemarie Bucher
Berghotel Alpenblick

12-14:00
Food event, activation “Breastworks” by Paloma Ayala, with Sascha Skraban
Behind Berghotel Alpenblick

14:00
Artist talk and work presentation “M ü.M.”
with Christina Hemauer and Roman Keller
In und vor Berghotel Alpenblick

Permanent:
– Video-Documentary Ernesto Neto: „From Earth to Earth“
– Preview ILEA BOOK2: „What if? Letters to the Future“

And the last chance to see all the works of the Biennale in Safien-Platz, Tenna, Thalkirch and Versam by: Ravi Agarwal & Paulina Lopez / Paloma Ayala / Magali Dougoud / Hemauer/Keller / Monica Ursina Jäger / Ola Maciejewska / Sujit Mallik / Vibeke Mascini / Farah Mulla / Ernesto Neto / QUARTO / Stefanie Salzmann / Renae Shadler / Andrea Todisco / Huhtamaki Wab 

Under My Gaze

Review of the performance on 15.9.24 in Valendas:
UNDER MY GAZE by RENAE SHADLER
Participants: Emeka Ene / Dorota Michalak / Renae Shadler (performance), Samuel Hertz (sound)
supported by Aerocene Foundation
Work description   /  CLIP 1  /  CLIP 2

Performance in Valendas

The performance UNDER MY GAZE and workshop by Renae Shaedler will be shown on September 15 in Valendas – as part of the Valendas village festival.
Performance: 11.15 am – 12.45 pm
Workshop: 2.30 – 4 pm (also for families with children)
Participants: Emeka Ene / Dorota Michalak / Renae Shadler (performance), Samuel Hertz (sound)
program village festival

In the media

Media reports on the Art Safiental Biennale (in German, English, French, Portuguese, Russian and Japanese) will be posted on the press page on an ongoing basis.

THE HOLE

Review of the artist talk and work presentation by ILEA artist in residence SUJIT MALLIK, who presented his work THE HOLE and spoke about his farm collective Saagwala in New Delhi and the dialog between art and agriculture. The one-month residency was made possible thanks to a Research Grand from Pro Helvetia.
> Work description

📷 by: Sujit Mallik (1), Hanna Hölling (2), Marcus Maeder (3), Johannes Hedinger (4,5)

Academy 2024 canceled

Due to the tight financial situation, the Alps Art Academy Symposium planned for 30.8. – 1.9.2024 had to be canceled. Instead, a discursive event is planned for the finissage of the Art Safiental Biennale on October 20, 2024. Details will follow in September. We wish you a wonderful summer and invite everyone to visit ART SAFIENTAL until October 20.

Artist Talk

Please join us  for a work presentation and talk with Biennale artist and current artist in resident at ILEA at Berghotel Alpenblick in Tenna

SUJIT KUMAR MALLIK
THE HOLE (listening station)
Berghotel Alpenblick Tenna
Aug 1, 4pm
talk with curator Johannes M. Hedinger
Followed by BBQ by Sascha at Alpenblick Tenna

Sujit will present his newly developed work THE HOLE (listening station) and talk about the dialog between (wo)man and planet and between the human and the more-than-human.
As an artist and farmer, Sujit digs through time and the stories of soils (and the earth). As part of his ILEA residency, he dug a hole to be able to listen into the ground in a very analog way. Visitors are invited to listen into the Alpine soil of Tenna via a thin, over 1-meter-long tube. A cushion with a hole, a mat to lie on and earplugs for the ear facing away from the hole are provided so that visitors can optimally immerse themselves in this meditative journey. After the listening experience, participants are invited to share their thoughts in a notebook (“hole journal”). The project aims to sharpen the senses and to re-experience the soil as a central force in our lives.

ZOMBIE MERMAIDS (Performance)

Review of the performance day on 20.7.24 in Safien Platz:
Magali Dougoud, Laure Boer and Myriam Jarmache performed ZOMBIE MERMAIDS, A SONG FOR FUTURE WATERS by MAGALI DOUGOUD.
Duration 35 min. Followed by an artist talk with the curator Josiane Imhasly
> Work description

📷 by: Artemis Tsakiri (1, 4, 5, 6), Luc Isenschmid (2), Josiane Imhasly (3), Johannes Hedinger (7, 8)

THE SECOND BODY

Review of the performance day on 20.7.24 in Safien Platz:
Leah Marojevic performig THE SECOND BODY by OLA MACIEJEWSKA.
Duration 60 min. Followed by an artist talk with the curator Joanna Lesnierowska.
A video documentation will soon be available online.
> Work description:

📷 by: Johannes Hedinger (1, 2, 3, 6), Ola Maciejewska Studio (4), Thomas Rickenmann (5)

Performance Day July 20

Join us for another performance day at Art Safiental Biennale 2024
July 20 – at KWZ Kraftwerke Zervreila AG in Safien Platz

2.15 pm
Leah Marojevic will perform THE SECOND BODY by OLA MACIEJEWSKA
Duration 60 min. Followed by an artist talk with curator Joanna Lesnierowska

4.15 pm
MAGALI DOUGOUD, Laure Boer and Myriam Jarmache will perform ZOMBIE MERMAIDS, A SONG FOR FUTURE WATERS
Duration 35 min. Followed by an artist talk with curator Josiane Imhasly

We are officially open!

1: QUARTO: Moving Landscapes Thomas Rickenmann

2: Ernesto Neto explaining the upcoming performance : Urs Karli

3: Monica Ursina Jäger, groupscreening of „Transient Traveller“, Monica Ursina Jäger

4: Paloma Ayala explaining her „Breastworks“, Dominik Landwehr

5: Hemauer/Keller explaining „M.ü.M.“, Johannes Hedinger

6: Official Opening at Alpenblick Tenna, Hanna Hölling

7: Official Opening at Alpenblick Tenna, Urs Karli

8: Huhtamaki Wab Opening at Kunst Garage Versam, Johannes Hedinger

9: Ernesto Neto: „From Earth to Earth“, : Johannes Hedinger

10: Damian, Ernesto, Hanna, Anton and Johannes tired but happy

Opening Performances

July 5
Huhtamaki Web will perform NOMADIC FREQUENCIES from sundown to sunrise in the barn of Kunstgarage Versam.
7.30pm exhibition + drinks, 8.30pm Start Performance
You can bring your sleeping bag and listen all night long!

July 6
QUARTO will perform MOVING LANDSCAPES below Tenner Chrüz in Tenna.
Meeting Point: 6pm at Berghotel Alpenblick, Tenna. 90 minutes hiking on foot. Duration of the Performance: 45 min. Return approx. 9.30 pm in Tenna

July 7
ERNESTO NETO will perform FROM EARTH TO EARTH in Tenna.
Meeting Point: 11am at Berghotel Alpenblick Tenna. 25 minutes procession on foot. Duration of the Performance: 60 min.
Return approx. 1pm at Berghotel Alpenblick Tenna

Exhibition Guide

Available from July 5 in all restaurants, village stores and tourism points in the valley as well here for download.

Opening Program

From July 5-7, you can look forward to a great opening program with performances and artist meetings. >Detailed program. See you soon in Safiental!

(image: QUARTO, Moving Landscapes, photo: Claudio von Planta)

Teaser Video

Curatorial Statement

Curatorial Statement to the Biennale 24: 
What if? Songs from Tomorrowlands

In the summer of 2024, the voices of thirteen artists will be heard in the Alpine valley of Safiental, located in the Canton of Grisons, Switzerland. Akin to mountaineers calling to each other from mountain tops, the tales of different futures and speculative scenarios will bounce off the peaks and reverberate within the valley, amplifying the visions of these imagined tomorrows. What songs will we hear? And which ones would we like to sing along with?

The Safiental valley was shaped by the Rabiusa River, whose name translates as “raging”, and is now tamed by hydropower. The land, largely cultivated wherever the hillsides are not too steep, is dotted with dispersed settlements. To the north, the valley is bordered by the famous Rhine Gorge, a colossal wound ripped open ten thousand years ago by a landslide. In this landscape, the catastrophic is as palpable as the cultivated. The romantic and the technological meet in unexpected infrastructures.

In the site-specific exhibition What if? Songs from Tomorrowlands, artists react to this territory, looking at the Safiental valley and the Alps as a crucible for human and natural activity. The temporality of the landscape is expanded and connected with other places and times through the resonance of local and global voices, memories, and myths. In this context, “What if?” is more than just a rhetorical question, and songs are not only understood as melodies. They are tools that encourage us to go beyond the familiar and connect to ourselves, all kinds of other living beings, and the environment through new affiliations and identities, shaped by the exchange and transformation of alternative knowledge and stories. “What if” is thus understood as world-making, inviting us to seek collective healing and harmony, driven by the idea that hope is a muscle (Björk) that must constantly be exercised.

What if? Songs from Tomorrowlands refers to a relational point of view: one that listens to the whispers and collective chants from possible futures in a time of multiple choices, crises, opportunities, and catastrophes. Together, we set out to reflect on and act upon the present through the lens of the times to come – by asking ourselves in the future perfect tense (Harald Welzer): What will we have done, and what will we have left undone? How do we want to be remembered, and how can we become “a good ancestor” (Roman Krznaric)?

The thirteen voices spread across the valley, ricocheting across the meadows, forests, and rocky outcrops, reverberating questions, hopes and fears. This songbook of utopian and dystopian spells is nourished by dreams, imagination, and the speculative worlds of science fiction. In Safiental, the changing mountainous environment encourages us to question our sense of collective belonging and the way we relate to the world around us. Echoing the chorus of this increasingly sticky melody, it prompts us to practice the “What if?”.

Curators:
Anne-Laure Franchette, Josiane Imhasly, Johannes M. Hedinger, Joanna Lesnierowska

Survey

In February 2024, the Beverin Nature Park conducted a survey among the residents of Safiental regarding the ART SAFIENTAL Biennale and the ALPS ART ACADEMY summer school. The aim was to record and collect expectations, wishes and needs regarding the art and cultural initiatives. A total of 117 responses were received (952 inhabitants live in Safiental). The ILEA association will be evaluating the survey results over the next few weeks and then inviting the valley community to a discussion on the future of cultural activities in Safiental. The date and location of the event will be communicated shortly.  We would like to thank all Safiental residents who took part in the survey.

A first brief preview of the survey results can be found here:  Survey Art Safiental 2024

Crowdfunding

Save the date

July 6 – October 20, 2024
5. ART SAFIENTAL – Biennale for Land and Environmental Art
„WHAT IF? Songs from Tomorrowlands“
Safiental, Switzerland

Works by:
Ravi Agarwal + Paulina Lopez (IN, CL)
Paloma Ayala (MX/CH)
Magali Dougoud (CH)
Hemauer/Keller (CH)
Monica Ursina Jaeger (CH)
Vibeke Mascini (NL)
Ernesto Neto (BR)
Ola Maciejewska (PL)
Quarto (BR/SE)
Stefanie Salzmann (CH)
Renae Shadler (AUS/DE)
Andrea Francesco Todisco (CH)
Huhtamaki Wab (JP/UK)
a.o.

Curated by:
Anne-Laure Franchette, Johannes M. Hedinger, Josiane Imhasly, Joanna Lesnierowska

The 5. Biennale for Land and Environmental Art will take place between July 6 – October 20, 2024, in Safiental (Grisons, Switzerland). 13 national and international art positions will create temporary outdoor works in dialogue with the landscape. Distributed over the entire valley the installations will be accessible daily free of charge for around four months. A short guide with a map will be published to accompany the exhibition, followed by a catalogue in autumn. The festival center is located at Berghotel Alpenblick Tenna, which is also home to ILEA (Institute for Land and Environmental Art), the ILEA Gallery and the ILEA Residency program.

Among the over 60 artists and projects from previous Biennales, you find artists such as Lita Albuquerque, Ursula Biemann, Julius von Bismarck, James Bridle, Bob Gramsma, Ingeborg Lüscher, !Mediengruppe Bitnik, Raumlabor, Analia Saban, Roman Signer, Steiner/Lenzlinger, Ben Vautier and many others.
The founder and artistic director of the Art Safiental Biennale is Johannes M. Hedinger.
The exhibition is organized by the ILEA Institute for Land and Environmental Art, and sponsored by the Beverin Nature Park in partnership with the municipality of Safiental.

Support Culture

Dear cultural friends and shoppers at MIGROS (Switzerland): Support our association ILEA (Institute for Land and Environmental Art) with your purchase (The Support Culture-campaign only runs until April 15). Many thanks in advance! DIREKTLINK

ILEA Gallery

Well-attended opening of the exhibition “Stories of Gras“ by the Indian artist Dharmendra Prasad at ILEA Gallery. In the summer of 2022 the artist spent three months in the ILEA artist residence in Tenna, intensively researching and producing on the subject of grass (including the Grass Museum, which was part of the Biennale Art Safiental and whose facade can still be visited. During this time in Tenna, the artist began to deal intensively with grass and to work with it as a material and medium.  The exhibition shows both a retrospective of this phase, as well as the continuation of his work in India on the same theme. 

The exhibition runs until 29.10.2023 and can be visited during the opening hours of the Berghotel Alpenblick (Wed-Sat 10-22, Sun 10-18, Mo+Tues rest days), there are information sheets available on each floor for a self-guided tour. The exhibition extends over 4 floors. The exhibition is curated by Johannes M. Hedinger and Shazeb Shaikh. Produced by ILEA and EAE (Environmental Art Exchange). ILEA and ILEA Gallery is supported by Naturpark Beverin and the municipality of Safiental.
Handout
Pressetext

Season’s Greetings

To our friends, collaborators, partners, alumni, visitors, guest and all interested parties:
We want all the war, sickness, and death that 2022 brought to come to an end. We wish all of you a safer, more peaceful and joyous 2023.
Warmly, Team ILEA

We look back on an eventful year:
The art summer was packed with the 4th Art Safiental Biennale on the theme “Learning from the Earth”, the 4th Alps Art Academy and the 3rd ILEA Talks, three established initiatives returned and new ones were established and expanded: In the ILEA Residency, thanks to a cooperation with Pro Helvetia (To-gather), we could welcome for the first time two long-term guests from India: Shazeb Shaikh and Dharmendra Prasad, whose Grass Museum many still remember from the Biennale. Both are returning to the ILEA Gallery in Alpenblick next year with the exhibition “Grass Stories” (opening 12/31/22).
The exhibition in the ILEA Gallery shown in the expiring year presented Marcus Maeder with his research project ACLA, which will be continued next year and extended to a 2nd forest area together with the partners from ZHdK, WSL and the forest service Safiental. The second ongoing research project “Safientaler Gespräche”, Oral History with Dominik Landwehr, will also continue next year, undergo an evaluation and an opening.
In spring, the reader “Learning from the Earth” is announced, which we were recently able to finance through a crowdfunding campaign.
The construction of the ILEA Institute – the future umbrella structure for all projects, the competence and research center for art, ecology and creative industries in the peripheral Alpine region – which has already begun this year, will be further advanced in the coming year. Currently, this undertaking is receiving support from the UBS Cultural Foundation and the NRP Berggebietsprogramm.

We wish you happy holidays, a good start into the new year – and look forward to seeing you again in the Safiental in 2023.

(Photo: Grass Museum by Dharmendra Prasad, Art Safiental 2022)

Stories of Grass

The new exhibition at the ILEA Gallery in the Berghotel Alpenblick in Tenna features “Stories of Grass”, a solo presentation by Indian artist Dharmendra Prasad. He spent about three months in the ILEA artist residency in Tenna last summer. During this time, he began to work intensively with grass as a material and medium. In the process, grass developed into a non-human personality for him. The exhibition is both a retrospective of the works created in Tenna (objects, drawings, texts, photographs, videos, performances and installations), and also the continuation of his work in India on the same topic. The Grass Museum above Tenna, which was part of the last Art Safiental Biennale can still be visited until the end of winter, is probably still well remembered by the local public.

Opening: 31. Dec 16.00 with guided tour and apéro
exhibition dates: 31. Dec 2022 –  29. Oct 2023
Handout

we made it!

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding campaign for the publication on the annual theme LEARNING FROM THE EARTH.
We would be very happy about your support – Fine rewards are waiting (books, knowledge, art, culinary and adventure in the Safiental) + and / or please also share – thank you in advance!
>> https://wemakeit.com/projects/learn-from-the-earth
(The promotion runs only until December 4, 2022)

SHORT FACTS

15 Essays + 15 art projects

german/english, ca. 120 pages

publishing date early 2023

Vexer Verlag St.Gallen/Berlin

TEXTS:

Annemarie Bucher (CH), Damian Christinger (CH), T.J. Demos (US), Friday for Future, Donna Haraway (US), Johannes M. Hedinger (CH), Naomi Klein (CA), Klimastreik (CH), Bruno Latour (FR), James Lovelock (UK), Timothy Morton (US), Dharmendra Prasad (IN), Michel Serres (FR), Vandana Shiva (IN), Greta Thumberg (SE) u.a.

ART PROJECTS BY:

Lara Almarcegui (ES, NL), Badel/Sarbach (CH), Ursula Biemann (CH), Julius von Bismarck (DE), Buchli/Isenschmid (CH), Com&Com (CH), Saskia Edens (CH), Lithic Alliance (CH/BE), Marcus Maeder (CH), !Mediengruppe Bitnik (CH/DE), Dharmendra Prasad (IN), Simon/Odermatt (CH), Sound Kite Ensemble (CH), Gerda Steiner & Jörg Lenzlinger (CH), Ben Vautier (FR/CH).

Closing Program

Closing Program 21/22. Okt 2022 > PDF

Final Presentations Alps Art Academy

Program of the final presentations of the projects of the Alps Art Academy 2022 – 3.9.22: o8.30 – 17.30, Tenna >PDF

T.J. Demos: Unlearning Ecocide

Friday, August 26 2022, 8:30-9:15 PM CEST;
T.J. DEMOS: Unlearning Ecocide
ILEA Talks, August 26.-28, 2002, Tenna, Switzerland

Unlearning Ecocide 
To learn from the earth, we must unlearn ecocide. That is no easy thing, as “we” are all inhabitants of the planet subjected–differentially–to the ongoing terms of racial, colonial, and extractive capitalism. Nonetheless, this unlearning emerges as a political imperative at the present time of climate breakdown, where global society, including diverse artistic cultures, face the collective challenge of transforming everything in order to ensure survival. What are the terms of this un/learning, and how can artistic practice aid the struggle?

T. J. Demos teaches art history and visual culture at UC Santa Cruz, and directs its Center for Creative Ecologies. He writes about contemporary art, global politics, and ecology and is the author of numerous books, including Decolonizing Nature: Contemporary Art and Political Ecology (Sternberg Press, 2016), Against the Anthropocene: Visual Culture and Environment Today, (Sternberg Press, 2017), and most recently, Beyond the World’s End: Arts of Living at the Crossing (Duke University Press, 2020).

Streaming via YouTube
www.alpsartacademy.ch
www.ilea.art

ILEA Talks

Under the Title of the Biennal and as part of the Alps Art Academy and there will be a multi-day symposium from Friday evening, August 26 to Sunday noon, August 28, 2022.

Friday August 26.: 20.15  – 21.30
Saturday August 27.: 14 – 19.30
Sunday August 28.: 08.15 – 14.00

Streaming via YouTube

Detailed Program PDF

Keynotes:
Ursula Biemann / T.J. Demos / Fernando Garcia-Dory
Lectures: 
Ravi Agarwal / Annemarie Bucher / Damian Christinger / Anne-Laure Franchette / Johannes M. Hedinger / Hanna Hölling / Cathérine Hug / Marcus Maeder / Martin Ott / Dharmendra Prasad / Shazeb Shaik

The symposium will take place in a hybrid form – partly with locally present speakers, partly online. The event is open to the public and aimed at a broad audience. A link to the live stream will be provided in August and will be accessible to all interested parties.  Live Stream on YouTube.

Info Map Art Safiental

Overview map of all works and locations of the Art Safiental Biennale 2022. Digital HERE and as printed version from 2.7.22 in all village stores, restaurants, hotels and tourist points in the Safiental. Map in partnership with Transhelvetica.

Opening program

Flyer

Art Summer 2022

ART SAFIENTAL
BIENNALE FÜR LAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL ART
Lara Almarcegui (ES/NL) Badel/Sarbach (CH) Ursula Biemann (CH)
Julius von Bismarck (DE) Buchli/Isenschmid (CH) Com&Com (CH)
Saskia Edens (CH) Lithic Alliance (CH/BE) Marcus Maeder (CH)
!Mediengruppe Bitnik (CH/DE) Dharmendra Prasad (IN) Simon/Odermatt (CH)
Sound Kite Ensemble (CH) Gerda Steiner & Jörg Lenzlinger (CH)
Ben Vautier (FR/CH) – Kurator: Johannes M. Hedinger

VERNISSAGE
Sa/So 2./3. Juli 2022, Besichtigungen und Performances an
verschiedenen Standorten. Details hier
Sa 2. Juli 11 Uhr Ansprache und Apéro, Berghotel Alpenblick, Tenna

FÜHRUNGEN
So, 24. Juli / 14. Aug / 18. Sep / 9. Okt 2022
Jeweils ganztägige Führung, Info und Anmeldung hier

EVENTS / FINISSAGE
Sound Kite Ensemble: 2., 3., und 31. Juli, 3. Sept 2022, Details hier
507 Nanometer «Beneath Blind», 28. Aug 2022, altes Acla-Tunnel
Finissage: Sa / So, 22. / 23. Okt 2022, Details ab Okt auf Website

PARTNER PROJEKTE
Klimapavillon Safiental «Gää&Nää» in Valendas
Briefkunst von Kindern mit DIE POST in Tenna
Kinderzeichnungen der Gesamtschule Tenna in Versam
Kunst Garage Versam

ALPS ART ACADEMY
25. Aug – 3. Sep 2022, Sommerakademie für Land and Environmental
Art, Berghotel Alpenblick, Tenna. www.alpsartacademy.ch

ILEA AUSSTELLUNGEN
Bis 23. Okt 2022, Berghotel Alpenblick, Tenna
«ACLA: Texturen», Forschungsprojekt von Marcus Maeder
«Safientaler Gespräche», Hörstation Oral History-Projekt
«Art Safiental Gallery», Fotos von allen Werken 2016–2022

ILEA TALKS
27. / 28. Aug 2022, Symposium für Land and Environmental Art,
Tenna und online. Detailprogramm ab Aug auf der Webseite

Teaser Biennale 2022

ART SAFIENTAL – Biennale for Land and Environmental Art
Safiental – Switzerland (7/2 – 10/23, 2022)

works by
Lara Almarcegui (ES), Badel/Sarbach (CH), Ursula Biemann (CH), Julius von Bismarck (DE), Buchli/Isenschmid (CH), Com&Com (CH), Saskia Edens (CH), Lithic Alliance (CH/BE), Marcus Maeder (CH), !Mediengruppe Bitnik (CH/DE), Dharmendra Prasad (IN), Simon/Odermatt (CH), Sound Kite Ensemble (CH), Steiner/Lenzlinger (CH), Ben Vautier (FR/CH)

curated by
JOHANNES M. HEDINGER

organized by
INSTITUTE FOR LAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL ART

produced by
NATURPARK BEVERIN SAFIENTAL TOURISMUS

video by
THOMAS RICKENMANN

sound by
FABIAN GUTSCHER

Mail Art competition

A cooperation between Art Safiental and Swiss Post, based on an idea by H.R. Fricker. We are looking for letter envelopes artistically designed by children that reflect the theme “Learning from the Earth” in an impressive and surprising way. The works will be on display in the valley’s restaurants throughout the exhibition period of the Biennale. The deadline for entries is June 3, 2022.
> Competition task / Conditions of participation / Prizes

Call extended

Only a few places left: Apply until May 29 and join us at the international summer school for land and environmental art in the Swiss Alps!
Topic 2022: „Learning from the Earth“.
The 4th international Alps Art Academy will take place between Aug 25–Sept 3, 2022, in Safiental (Grisons, Switzerland). The summer school focuses on contemporary approaches to Land and Environmental Art by bringing them into a relationship with the Alpine landscape.
We encourage proposal submissions from artists working with landscape and the environment across genres and media, as well as from theoreticians, facilitators and curators engaged in research on the topic of Land Art. We welcome applications accompanied by a concrete concept that can be realized during the period of the summer school.
Gathering circa twenty participants over a period of ten days, the Academy offers a rich program of workshops, seminars, field trips, artist talks and presentations, as well as a thematic symposium. Participants have the opportunity to explore what does it mean to create in, and interact with, the Alpine landscape and apply their experience in their work.
Workshops: NatureCulture / Local Context / Eating Earth / Earth on Air / Theorizing Ecology
The requirements, selection criteria, procedure, forms, FAQ and terms and conditions can be found here

Call Academy

The call for applications for the 4th Alps Art Academy on the theme “Learning from the Earth” has just been published here and on Art & Education.
Please apply by May 29 at the latest. The requirements, selection criteria, procedure, forms, FAQ and terms and conditions can be found here. – We are looking forward to your applications – see you soon in the Swiss Alps!

ILEA Workshop

Impressions from the ILEA Kick Off-Workshop on 4/5.3.22 in Tenna. Think Tank and workshops for a new competence and research centre for creative economy in Safiental. Organized by the future Institute for Land and Environmental Art. Workshops run by Dezentrum, hosted by Alpenblick Tenna and Gemeinde Safiental. Supported by NRP Berggebietsprogramm, Coaching by Seecon (Pics by: Benedikt Joos, Dominik Landwehr, Andrea Studer, Lena Witschi, Johannes Hedinger)

Mountains of Art

We have just received a copy of “MOUNTAINTS OF ART” (Berge von Kunst), the new book by Ute Watzl, who has earlier reported on Art Safiental in 2020 (here). The beautifully designed, over 200 p. heavy book portrays 2o art locations in the Swiss, Austrian, German and Italian Alps. Our Biennale has the honor of opening the volume with a total of 12 pages and 15 illustrations, including the back cover. Published by AS Verlag, > more info and order

Acla Video Doc

Documentary on the ongoing ecoacoustic research and art project by Marcus Maeder for ILEA and Art Safiental Biennale 2022. Currently on show at Berghotel Alpenblick in Tenna/Safiental, Switzerland. Commissioned by the Institute for Land and Environmental Art, supported by Naturpark Beverin, Gemeinde Safiental and Amt für Natur und Umwelt GR.
Documentation by Pascal Derungs, Jean Claude Plattner (c) by plattnerfilms.

ACLA: Textures

The latest exhibition in the ILEA Gallery at the Berghotel Alpenblick in Tenna provides insight into the ongoing research project ACLA by Marcus Maeder as well as a preview of the upcoming Art Safiental Biennale “Learning from the earth” in the summer of 2022, in which this sound research can be actively experienced.
Opening: Dec 30, 5pm / Talk/Listening: Dec 31 3pm / on view until: March 27 2022
Presstext/Saalblatt /about the artist: Marcus Maeder

1: Klangtexturen 1, 2021  (Marcus Maeder)
2: Messstation ACLA 1, 2021  (Marcus Maeder)
3: Motiv/Variation 1, 2021 (Marcus Maeder)

Mass movements

It is with great pleasure that we announce the new publication “Massenbewegungen / mass movements” edited by by me and ILEA Institute and published at Vexer Verlag. The most comprehensive monograph to date on the work of Swiss artist Patrick Rohner offers an overview of the entire oeuvre of the last 20 years and is published in conjunction with the solo exhibition “Steine zeichnen” (Drawing Stones), which runs until the end of October at the Institute for Land and Environmental Art in the Berghotel Alpenblick in Tenna, Safiental. 
D/E, 340 p., 1800 ill., design: TGG St.Gallen. ISBN 978-3-907112-46-5
with 14 texts (Konrad Bitterli, Katja Blomberg, David N. Bresch, Annette Gigon, Johannes M. Hedinger, Invar-Torre Hollaus, Peter Hubacher, Patrick Rohner, Hans-Jakob Schindler, Yael Schindler Wildhaber, Ruben Alexander Schuster, Cornelia Schwierz, Lucie Tuma, Helmut Weissert, Roland Wäspe)

book presentation + author talk

The Institute for Land and Environmental Art and the artist Patrick Rohner invite you to the book vernissage and author talk. The publication “Mass Movements”, published by the ILEA, gathers all the important groups of works of the last 20 years and shows for the first time the entire range of media in which the artist expresses himself. – DE/EN, 340 pages, Vexer Publisher, ISBN: 978-3-907112-46-5

Saturday, September 25, 2021, 1:30 p.m., Berghotel Alpenblick, Tenna

Program
13.30 h Book presentation with aperitif
14.00 – 15.00 Author talk with Patrick Rohner, David N. Bresch and Johannes M. Hedinger
15.00 Guided tour with the artist Patrick Rohner through the exhibition at Berghotel Alpenblick

Preview Aclatobel

Preview of the Art Summer 2022: in July the eco-acoustic long-term observation of the Aclatobel in the Safiental was started. An artistic research work by Marcus Maeder, which will also be part of the Art Safiental Biennale 2022 (theme: “Learning from the Earth”).

 

Podcast – 2. season

6 more valley conversations have been added to our podcast. The ILEA podcast is a collection of short audio interviews with actors of the Institute for Land and Environmental Art and residents of the Safiental.
Currently, over 30 conversations are available on Soundcloud. They were all conducted by Dominik Landwehr.

ILEA Podcast

ILEA-Podcast is a collection of short Audio-Interviews with artists from the 2020 Art Safiental Biennal, participants of the 2020 Alps Art Academy, members of the Institute for Land and Environmental Art and inhabitants of Tenna/Safiental.
Currently 25 conversations (all conducted by Dominik Landwehr) are available on Soundcloud. More interviews with artists of the Biennale 2020 and inhabitants of Safiental are in planing. All conversations will be migrated to the ILEA Institute-Website which is currently under constructions.

ILEA exhibition: Patrick Rohner

Seit Sommer 2020 finden im ILEA Institute for Land and Environmental Art im Berghotel Alpenblick Tenna regelmässig auch indoor Ausstellungen statt. Aktuell ist es die Ausstellung “STEINE ZEICHNEN” von Patrick Rohner. Es ist eine Fortsetzung seiner Biennale Arbeit von 2020. Damals entstanden im schwerzugänglichen Carnusatobel bei Safien-Platz zwölf «Steinzeichnungen», die nun erstmalig zu sehen sind. Zu Beginn des Sommers 2020 wurden grosse, weisse Büttenpapiere in die Schluchtlandschaft ausgelegt, mit je einem grossen Stein beschwert und knapp fünf Monate der Witterung ausgesetzt. Im November 2020 wurden dann die Blätter gehoben und die Prozessarbeit beendet. Deutlich zeichnen sich die Silhouetten der Steine ab, hervorgerufen von eingeschwemmten Sedimenten der darüber liegenden Steine, teils vermischt mit Material des umliegenden Wald-, Fels- und Flussbodens. Der Künstler setzte einen Rahmen, die Natur führte den Pinsel. Ein «Natural Ready Made».

Die Resultate sind bis zum 24. Oktober 2021 im Berghotel Alpenblick zu sehen, zusammen mit zwei weiteren Werkblöcken: den «Begehungen» und «Wasserzeichnungen».

«Begehungen» sind mehrstündige Wanderungen im Safiental, während denen der Künstler tausende von Fotos von der Landschaft und den Topographien macht. Abzüge dieser Bilder fügt er dann anschliessend zu einem grossen quiltartigen Teppich zusammen. In einem jüngsten Schritt übernimmt neu nun eine Drohne dieses visuelle Abtasten. Der dritte Komplex, die «Wasserzeichnungen» entstehen regelmässig im Atelier des Künstlers, parallel zu Rohners ebenfalls meist über Jahre prozessual entstehenden Ölgemälden. Über mehrere Monate werden horizontal ausgelegte Papiere mit farbigem Wasser begossen und eingetrocknet. Dies führt zu zufälligen Strukturen und letztendlich imaginären Landschafen.

Mittels Videos, Materialvitrine, Handbibliothek, Schaubildern und Saaltexten werden die verschiedenen Zyklen und Arbeitsschritte dem Publikum näher gebracht.

Komplette Werkliste + Foto-Rundgang > PDF
Kuratiert von Johannes M. Hedinger

Im Sommer erscheint die Monographie «Patrick Rohner: Massenbewegung» im Vexer Verlag St.Gallen/Berlin. Die die entsprechende Buchvernissage wird noch gesondert kommuniziert.
Informationen zu Patrick Rohner:  www.patrickrohnerartist.com

Our best 2020

Positive reviews

This (extraordinary) art year 2020 is slowly drawing to an end. Despite the Covid pandemic, almost all events and parts could be held, some with restrictions (including the summer academy took place in autumn and at a reduced rate). We would like to take this opportunity to thank all employees, helpers, participants, supporters and visitors for the diverse collaborations and nice encounters. We hope to see you all again in summer 2022.
An new exhibition program will also take place between the biennials at the ILEA Institute in the Berghotel Alpenblick Tenna. The next exhibition with works by Patrick Rohner will open at the end of December 2020.

Detailed final statement German)
Press reviews,  unten: Südostschweiz, 3.11.20

Program Closing Event

Please join us for a big finale with great events and presentations on the last two days of the Art Safiental Biennale.  > Flyer

Baptism on Bergkanzel

On Oct 9, the outdoor baptism of Anton Ben Anakena, son of Hanna Hölling and Johannes M. Hedinger  took place on the Bergkanzel by Com&Com

Successfull 3. Alps Art Academy

Photo missing

Since the stormy weather of the last few days, the large photo panel by Melodie Mousset near the church in Thalkirch has been missing. If you find it, please contact the Beverin Nature Park (Benedikt Joss) +41 81 650 70 19

Alps Magazine

“Das Digi-Tal. Das Bündner Safiental ist eng. Doch seine Bewohner sind so offen, wie man es selten in abgelegenen Alpenregionen erlebt. Frische Ideen und mutige Projekte..”
Thank you ALPS Magazine, Ute Watzl and Lisa Hörterer for the lovely and comprehensive article on our art initiatives and valley.

ILEA Talks: critical grounds

The symposium will take place on the first weekend of the Alps Art Academy, September 26/27, 2020. The first day of the Conference “CRITICAL GROUNDS” addresses a critical discourses regarding landscape, its change, perception, and use: the second day presents several art initiatives working in the peripheral, rural and alpine areas. Due to restrictions caused by the Covid-pandemic, this year’s the symposium will only take place within the Academy and will not be open to external visitors. But we will stream the talks free of charge and live for all interested parties.

Speakers: Annemarie Bucher, Sally de Kunst, Ryan Dewey, William L. Fox, Johannes M. Hedinger, Michael Hiltbrunner, Hanna B. Hölling, Marcel Hörler, Tara Lasrado, Dharmendra Prasad, Emily Eliza Scott, Chris Taylor, Curdin Tones, Rebecca Uchill, Karen Winzer
Link  Live Stream Saturday
Link Live Stream Sunday

Detailed program: HERE
Program/Handout – info/download

Doc film Robotic Event

“The Ascent Of The Robots” is a short documentary about three teams of scientists participating at the ETH Science Weekend, as part of ART Safiental 2020. Filmed by Leon Riener (Rienerschnitzel) in collaboration with ETH Zurich.

and a short version just with ANYmal

Successful Robo Event

Great first day of ETH Science Weekend at Art Safiental: #Robotic Hike with #Anymal and #Myosuit to Tenner Chrüz (2020m) high above #Tenna and #synaesthetic dance performance
Review in NZZ, Blick, Südostschweiz, Bündner Tagblatt und Ruinaulta. – Photos by Robert Riener and Susi Schildknecht.

Finally mainstream

The Art Safiental Biennale was featured as a question in the quiz show “1 gegen 100” on TV SRF1. and the candidate eben new the answer! 

ETH Science Weekend

Programm Sa/So 5./6. Sept
11-18 Robotics Show (zwischen Berghotel Alpenblick und Turnhalle Tenna)
11.00 Synaesthetic Dance (Dauer: 20 min., Turnhalle Tenna)
13.00 Synaesthetic Dance  (Dauer: 20 min., Turnhalle Tenna)
13.30 Robotic Hike (Tenner Alp – Tenner Chrüz) – wetterabhängig
15.00 Synaesthetic Dance  (Dauer: 20 min., Turnhalle Tenna)
17.00 Synaesthetic Dance  (Dauer: 20 min., Turnhalle Tenna)
19.00 Synaesthetic Dance  (Dauer: 20 min., Turnhalle Tenna) – nur Samstags

Am 5./6. September 2020 findet im Rahmen der Art Safiental in Tenna das gemeinsam mit der ETH IRIS (Institute or Robotics and Intelligent Systems) organisierte Science Weekend statt. An beiden Tagen wird um 13.30 «Robotic Hike» mit den Modellen “Myosuit” + “Anymal” von der Tenner Alp Bleichtaboda (1938 m.ü.M.) aufs Tenner Chrüz (2020 m.ü.M.) stattfinden.
Myosuit, ist ein tragbarer Roboter, der die Beinfunktionen und somit das Gehen unterstützt. Das Exoskelett erkennt anhand der aktuellen Körperstellung, wieviel Kraftunterstützung gegeben werden muss. Entwickelt wurde Myosuit durch das ETH-Labor für sensomotorische Systeme in Zürich unter dem Laborleiter Prof. Dr. Robert Riener. Der tragbare Myosuit wurde zwar für Menschen mit Muskelschwäche oder Gehbehinderung entwickelt, am 5. und 6. September in Tenna dürfen ihn aber alle Interessierten für einmal selbst anziehen und ausprobieren.
Begleitet werden Myosuit von der vierbeinigen Laufmaschine Anymal von Professor Dr. Marco Hutter (ebenfalls ETH). Hier ein Kurzfilm des Anymal in Aktion.

Parallel wird um 11.00, 13.00, 15.00, 17.00 Uhr (am Samstag zusätzlich um 19.00 Uhr) in der Turnhalle von Tenna der Synaesthetic Dance “Continuous|Discrete” aufgeführt. Diese wissenschaftlich-künstlerische Tanzeinlage wird den Aspekt Digital versus Analog durch spezielle optische Effekte ins Rampenlicht stellen.

Aus der Projektbeschreibung: Dance is the most expressive form of human movement, kept alive by the continuous concatenation of action patters. So what happens when we break these pieces apart? With a synaesthetic combination of music, light and dance, this performance explores the discretization of the continuity of human movement, the human body and its environment. WARNING: This performance may potentially trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy.

Marie Nüzel, lives and works in Munich as a choreographer and performer with a focus on physical performances. The biographical theme occupies a key position in her work and so the individual and his or her lived history is often the starting point for the development of her pieces. Choreographic works of her have been shown at the Festival Zürich tanzt (CH), Activate Performing Arts Poole (UK), Blackbox/Munich (DE), Maqamat Dance Theatre in Beirut (LIB) and Theater HochX/Munich. (www.marienuezel.de)
With a background in computer science, Roman Saratz spends most of his time between his profession as a software architect and his passion for DJing and technological gadgets. For this performance, Roman is in charge of music and light design.
Based on her education in Robotics Engineering, Marie Georgarakis is currently developing textile-robotic assistive devices at the Sensory-Motor Systems Lab at ETH Zurich, led by Prof. Robert Riener. For this performance, Marie was involved in the conception and created the stage design as well as costumes based on the lines of non-extension of human skin.

SRF Kulturplatz

Art Safiental some of its work  served as a frame of context and presenting for the special on ‘Digitalization of the school’ from Aug 19.
Featured works are by frölicher I bietenhader, Ester Vonplon, Bruno Jakob, Patrick Rohner, Marie Velardi und Jan Robert Leegte.
The whole show can be seen here. – Below an excerpt with the scenes from Art Safiental.

Exhibition guide available

The exhibition Guide incl. all work descriptions and hiking map is available.
online: here
as printed version starting Aug 13 an all Tourism Infopoints and restaurants in the valley
as well as in at the ILEA info-Point at Berghotel Alpenblick.

Guided Tours

Auf der begleiteten Kunstwanderung entdecken Sie ausgewählte Kunstinstallationen der Art Safiental und erhalten Hintergrundinformationen zum Projekt und den einzelnen Werken. Es werden zwei unterschiedliche Kunstwanderungen angeboten.

KUNSTWANDERUNG VALENDAS – VERSAM
Sonntag, 2. Aug. und Sonntag, 18. Okt. 2020

KUNSTWANDERUNG TURRAHUS – SAFIEN PLATZ
Sonntag, 23. Aug. und Sonntag, 20. Sept. 2020

Mehr Details, Infos und Anmeldung HIER

Successful Opening

installing N1-Observatory

installing “N1-Observatory” by Fragmentin on Mount Schlüechtli (2283nm), – Solar weather station + VR-Experience

exhibition guide (beta)

For the opening there will be a beta version of the exhibition guide –  here download.
End of July it will be replaced by the final cards with all Photos and texts in D/E.

Vernissage Program

download as PDF

Teaser Art Safiental 2020

video by THOMAS RICKENMANN
sound by FABIAN GUTSCHER
concept by JOHANNES M. HEDINGER

Bring your stones!

Aufruf an die Talbevölkerung 

Im Rahmen der kommenden Art Safiental (18.7. – 1.11.2020) ist die Talbevölkerung eingeladen, leihweise Steine für eine von H.R. Fricker organisierte Ausstellung zur Verfügung zu stellen.
Gesucht werden schöne, unbearbeitete Steine aus dem Safiental, der Rabiusa und der Rheinschlucht, welche die Talbewohnerinnen und -bewohner in ihrem Heim aufbewahren und mit denen sie eine spezielle Geschichte verbindet.
Bei der Abgabe werden Name und Geschichte schriftlich aufgezeichnet. Alle Steine und Geschichten werden in einer Ausstellung in Versam während der Dauer der Art Safiental zu sehen sein. Am Ende der Art Safiental werden die Steine wieder ihren Besitzern zurückgegeben.
Als kleines Dankeschön gibt es für die erwachsenen Teilnehmenden ein exklusives Safientaler Steinbier, das es nur während der Art Safiental gibt und dessen Etikette auch von H.R. Fricker gestaltet wird.

Sammelaktion
Donnerstag, 9. Juli 2020
09.30 – 11.30 Uhr im Haus Signina, Hauptstrasse 35, Versam
14.00 – 16.00 Uhr im Gasthaus Rathaus, SafienPlatz
Weitere Informationen: Safiental Tourismus, info@safiental.ch sowie www.artsafiental.ch

download PDF Flyer

Preview Manuel Rossner

Sneak Preview for the upcoming VR-Project by Berlin artist Manuel Rossner, who’s installation will be found in a stable in Tenna Innerberg. The viewer will be able to visit and even climb his virtual mega sculptures spread all over Safiental.

Interview

Interview in the weekly Ruinaulta about the upcoming 3. Art Safiental download
and in Bündner Woche download

artist list & press release

Find first information about the upcoming Biennale, artist list and press photos in the Media section

Partnership Biennale Bregaglia

Art Safiental Biennale 2020 is partnering with Biennale Bregaglia (5.7. – 27.9.2020). The artist Patrick Rohner is showing his two-part contribution “Nature knows no catastrophes” at both exhibitions, creating connections between these two alpine, outdoor biennials. https://biennale-bregaglia.ch/

Preview on GR-Heute

Vorschau auf die kommende Art Safiental und Alps Art Academy
https://www.grheute.ch/2020/05/05/tourismus-total-wieder-gibt-es-landschaftskunst-im-safiental/?fbclid=IwAR3efRyVGEVdHb7ZuAeBULpnc7C0DOZavOHZx7bRF5TPzBH1DBetalTJsLU

New date

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we decided to postpone the start of the Biennale by two weeks. The new date is: July 18 – November 1, 2020

ILEA TALKS

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we decided to postpone the symposium into autumn. The new date is: September 26 – 27, 2020

Landscape #1

The first edition of the new series Lanscape has been  published by VEXER Verlag (Berlin/St. Gallen). Edited by Johannes M. Hedinger and Hanna B. Hölling for the Institute for Land and Environmental Art (ILEA), and featuring leading voices in the discourse, the series is concerned with the theory, history and new tendencies in the art of the peripheric, rural and alpine landscapes.
English/German, 288 pages, 114 images
ISBN 978-3-909090-94-5 
Further information about the book can be obtained here: HERE

Winners Call for Projects

For  the 2020 edition “Analog-Digital” and in partnership with Migros-Kulturprozent we were able to award three projects with productions grants of a total of CHF 50’000:

• 20’000 CHF for «Prekäre Stellen: ctrl + s» by frölicher | bietenhader (Selina Frölicher, Micha Bietenhader), Zürich. – A digital pixelation installation attached to an abandoned stable in Safiental.

• 15’000 CHF for «#dailysheepnews» by Denis Handschin, Basel.
the artist will undergo a training as a shepherd and live for 3 months on an alp in Safiental with 600 sheep and posts daily on various online channels “SheepNews”.

• 15’000 CHF for «PolyClouds» by Lucie Tuma, Zürich.
A transdisciplinary, on weather and geology research based dance, performance and participative audio walk.

From earlier calls  from Migros Kulturprozent we invited two more projects:

• «kleee» (Winner Digitale Kulturen 2018)
Johannes Gees, Jonas Fehr and Valentin Pfisterer, Zürich. – an experimentell, mobil Laser Performance

• «.SVR» (Winner Digitale Kulturen 2017)
Marc Dubois, Laura Perrenoud, David Colombini (fragmentin), Grandvaux VD – an open air VR-Experience at a weather station high up on a mountain peak.

The Jury 2019: Alain Bellet, Associate Professor at ECAL University of Art and Design Lausanne; Thomas Buchli, Mayor of Safiental; Johannes Hedinger, Curator / artistic director of Art Safiental; Sabine Himmelsbach, Director Haus der elektronischen Künste HEK, Basel; Urs Küenzi, project manager Förderbeiträge, Direktion Kultur und Soziales, Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund; Dominik Landwehr, Director Neue Medien, Direktion Kultur und Soziales, Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund.

Call for Submissions 2020

The 2020 edition of Art Safiental is dedicated to the theme ‘ANALOG – DIGITAL’ and the relationship between digital culture and land and environmental art. In cooperation with Migros Kulturprozent, up to three production grants will be offered in 2019 for artists working on projects related to the theme of the Biennale. Selected artists will show their work together with 13 other artworks during the curated outdoor exhibition which takes place from July to October 2020. Requirement: applying artists must have Swiss citizenship or live/work in Switzerland for at least the last 6 months. 

The works will be presented throughout the entire Safiental area, largely in non-institutional locations situated in the alpine landscape as well as in semi-public and interior spaces. You can find information about the previous exhibitions here: NEW LAND ART (2016) and HORIZONTAL – VERTICAL (2018).

The deadline for submissions is April 30, 2019. Your project does not have to be finished at the time of application but should be completed by spring 2020. Total funding is up to 50,000 CHF, which is distributed by the jury to 2-3 individual projects.

Funded projects will be announced in June 2019. In the summer/autumn of 2019 selected artists will visit Safiental to determine the final location of the work. Selected projects are to be developed in close dialogue with the curator of Art Safiental. Construction and installation will take place in May-June 2020. The exhibition opens on July 4, 2020, and closes on Oct 18 2020.

Guidelines for application
Apply Online
Enquiries about the competition: Migros Kulturprozent, Dominik Landwehr
Enquiries about the exhibition: Kuratorium Art Safiental

Analia Saban: Sketch for Rock Painting. Art Safiental 2018

Happy New Year

We welcome 2019 with a hike on Piz Schlüechtli visiting “Transparent earth” (2018) by Lita Albuquerque from Art Safiental 2018. Next to Analia Saban the only work still on view.

Finissage Program

Come and join us for the big finale on Oct 20/21. 2018!

Short movie Art Safiental 2018

ART SAFIENTAL 2018 Video overview by Thomas Rickenmann

Art Safiental on 3sat

3sat adopted the report on  Art Safiental from SRF Kulturplatz – as the only segment of their Land Art-Program – translated into standard German and added a new informative intro.

Report on Swiss Television

Yesterday evening Swiss Television SRF broadcasted in its cultural section “Kulturplatz” a program on Land Art (whole report here) – one part portaited also this year’s Art Safiental, including interviews with Bob Gramsma, Gerber/Bardill, Marianne Halter and Mario Marchisella.

Video: Water Castle

For those who missed Steve Rowell‘s splendid film “WATER CASTLE” or want to rewatch, an online version is available now.

Report by Digital Brainstorming

Short visit by Digital Brainstorming from Migros Kulturprozent – Impressions and Interviews with mayor Thomas Buchli and curator Johannes M. Hedinger.

https://youtu.be/P0_jBwJ3kDM

Next round for the Zero Star Hotel

What started 2 year ago als art installation of the 1. Art Safiental grew into a tourism brand; the Null Stern Hotel – zero star hotel respectively Zero Star Hotel and lately the Zero Real Estate of Atelier für Sonderaufgaben. After Safiental (2016) and Appenzell (2017) this years installment took place in Toggenburg (St.Gallen): https://www.tagblatt.ch/ostschweiz/wie-das-null-stern-hotel-der-riklin-brueder-zur-tourismus-marke-wurde-ld.1049645

in the media

Art Safiental got featured all over the world, in publications such as Lonely Planet, Spiegel Online, Condé Nast Traveler, Designboom, The Guardian, Haaretz Israel oder No3. Magazine New York – but also in the local news such as Kunstbulletin, NZZ, WOZ, RTR, Swiss Info, Schweizer Familie, Südostschweiz or Bündner Tagblatt. More reviews can be found here

Impressions Egschi Shell

During the guided tour last Sunday there was a possibility to inspect the re-emerged Egschi Shell.
Update 25.8.: the Shell is partially under water again. During the last dry phase of Lake Egschi, there was a damage at the bottom of the shell. We are currently evaluating our options to bring it back to the surface.

Aug 19: Art Hike

Tomorrow Sunday Aug 19: Guided Art Hike – Art Safiental
There are still some spots open – hurry up and join us for a stroll over Art Safiental with the curator and artists of Art Safiental
meeting point: 9.00 am Tenna (Alpenblick)
end: approx.  5.00 pm Turrahus (or 6pm Versam)
The route, further information and booking: HERE

Egschi Shell floating again

Since two days Bob Gramsma’s “Egschi Shell” is back floating on Egschi Lake!

Press Photos online

Here you can download high-resolution press photos from all artworks / installations.

Art Hiking Map is online

ART HIKING MAP for digital download – and from next week on as a print copy at all Safiental Tourism information points and in the village shops and restaurants in Safiental free of charge. Get the exact locations of all individual works of art and information complementary to the exhibition and participating artists.

Symposium online

Most of the talks of the Symposium “Horizontal – Vertical” are now online on our Youtube-Channel:

Chris Taylor
Bill Fox
Hanna Hölling
Emily Eliza Scott
Steve Rowell
Sibylle Omlin
Giovanni Carmine
Atelier für Sonderaufgaben
DIG Collective

Artist talks online

All artist talks from the 2. Alps Art Academy can be found on our Youtube channel: 
H.R. Fricker
Bob Gramsma
Marianne Halter & Mario Marchisella
Lita Albuquerque
Bildstein/Glatz

Save Egschi Shell!

For reasons of power production, the hydro powerplant Kraftwerke Zevreila emptied the artificial Egschi Lake last week. During this manoeuvre, the shell hit the ground and got damaged. that’s why it is currently under water. Upcoming weekend the reservoir will be emptied again which gives us back the shell. Then we are checking the damages and start planning its rescue. Even the mayor of Safiental called and is willing to support the second life of “Egschi Shell”. – update 2.8.: the water in the lake is currently so low that the shell is on view again, it can also be visited. Currently they are testing the possibilities to make the shell float again. update 10.8.: due to the ongoing heat period, lake Egschi is still without water. this means also that the shell is still on dry ground and not floating, but can be visited.

“Transparent Earth” moved to Schlüechtli

“Transparent Earth” by Lita Albuquerque is on view at its new location on Schlüechtli (2283m). After long discussions with the local community about its earlier location and an unfortunate act of vandalism, the organisators decided in consultation with the artist to move the work from Tenner Kreuz up to Schlüechtli. We’d like to thank all involved helpers who dug out the sculpture at the previous site and anchored it at the new site, as well the crew of SwissHelicopter for the appropriate transport from peak to peak.”Transparent Earth” on Schlüchtli is reachable by foot from Tenna Mitte in approx. 2 to 2,5 hours.

Guided Tours Art Safiental

Join us for an Art Hike over Art Safiental! – The guided tours bring you to a selection of the artworks in Safiental. Artists and/or the curator who joins the tour are sharing background information. For Details + Booking go to HERE
There are two tours offered:
Tour A: Tenna – Versam / Tour B: Tenna – Thalkirch.
Dates:
22. Julz 2018 (with Johannes Hedinger/Jolanda Rechsteiner) – Tour A
19. August 2108 (with Matthias Bildstein, Marianne Halter, Mario Marchisella) – Tour B
23. September 2018 (with Gabriela Gerber, Lukas Bardill, Johannes Hedinger) – Tour A
7. October 2018 (with Jolanda Rechsteiner u.a.) – Tour B
>Details
>Booking

Alps Art Academy on RTR

Report by Donatella Bonifazi for RTR – Radiotelevisiun Svizra Rumantscha featuring 3 participants of the 2. Alps Art Academy: Paolo Uboldi (IT), Cathleen Ching Yee Lau (HK), Ryan Dewey (US)
–
La «Land Art Safiental» ha suenter il 2016 puspè lieu – quai n’è dentant betg il sulet che ha carmalà artists da tut il mund en la regiun.

Himmel III in “The Guardian”

“Himmel III” by Bildstein / Glatz was featured in today’s The Guardian.
right between a crocodile in Australia and Kim Jong-Un from North Korea.

Art Safiental officially open

ART SAFIENTAL and its 15 installations successfully opened last weekend. They are on view daily until Oct 21. free of charge. >Art Hiking Map

Opening program

Teaser Art Safiental

Preview Bündner Tagblatt

full article from Bündner Tagblatt 25.6.2018: download

application deadline

Bündner Tagblatt

Preview in Bündner Tagblatt of the upcoming Art Safiental and Alps Art Academy

Artists & faculty 2018

We are delighted to announce the invited artists for Art Safiental 2018, as well as the faculty for Alps Art Academy 2018:

Artist list 2018:
Lita Albuquerque (USA), Ueli Alder (CH), Aram Bartholl (D), Paul Barsch / Tilman Hornig (D), Bildstein / Glatz (CH/A), Mirja Busch (D), Com&Com (CH), DIG Collective (UK), HR Fricker (CH), Gabriela Gerber & Lukas Bardill (CH), Bob Gramsma (CH/NL), Ingeborg Lüscher (CH), Marianne Halter & Mario Marchisella (CH), Steve Rowell (USA), Analia Saban (ARG/USA), Roman Signer (CH) u.a.

Faculty 2018:
Matthias Bildstein (A), Mirja Busch (D), DIG Collective (UK), Bill Fox (USA), Gabriela Gerber/Lukas Bardill (CH), Johannes M. Hedinger (CH), Hanna Hölling (UK), Steve Rowell (USA), Analia Saban (USA), Konstanze Schütze (D), Chris Taylor (USA), u.a.

Aug 1-fire on top of Chrüz

After one year on top of Chrüz – “une échappée belle” (Stammtisch) by Les Frères Chapuisat is ready to leave this planet on Aug 1. as part of the national day festivity it will be burned on top of the mountain. – come, join, have a drink and a swiss sausage.
http://www.safiental.ch/…/ver…/detail/1_august_im_safiental/

Final Auction

On Dec 31 2016 the painting exhibition in a cow shed in Tenna will open for a very last time – incl. Punsch and auction of the paintings. starting bid CHF50. – new years eve sale! Preview 2-3pm, Auction starts at 2.45pm

Finissage report

Report in Bünder Tagblatt on the Finissage. full article here

Mostly viewed by cow

The video documentation of the final show of Art Safiental 2016 is online:

plus a documentary website

art in alpine space

Smart radio feature at SRF 1 Regionaljournal Graubünden. Full feature here:

salon report

Report on Salon Nomade at Alpenblick in Bünder Tagblatt. Full article here

Final days

Documentary – Alps Art Academy

Salon Nomade

Preview: Please join us on 1. Okt 2016 at Alpenblick in Tenna for the 9. SALON NOMADE: «New Land Art: was ist neu an der Land Art?» by and with Sibylle Omlin (ECAV Sierre) in conversation with Johannes M. Hedinger (curator Art Safiental). Program and application:

Making of – Art Safiental

funny TV Clip from Japan

funny clip in japanese Fuji TV フジテレビジョン (Tokio) about Null Stern Hotel from Art Safiental

Guided Tour August 7

This upcoming Sunday Aug 7, 10-16pm: guided tour with curator  Johannes M. Hedinger and Jolanda Rechsteiner (Safiental Tourismus) in combination with a hiking tour and culinary pleasures from the Safien valley. Starting Point 10am Tenna, Alpenblick. Further information

Art Safiental Teaser

Article at NZZ

Neue Zürcher Zeitung, page 20 – July 19, 2016, link online

Video Teaser

preview drone clip

Some shots of installations from ART SAFIENTAL made with our drone ‪‎Phantom 3‬, operated by Paul Barsch – sneak preview for the final clip coming out next week

Art hiking map (download)

The final version of the art hiking map arrived! (download). Printed versions are available next week at Safiental Tourismus and the restaurants and grocery stores in the Safien valley.

Selection Press Photos

Opening program July 2

DOWNLOAD 1: Visiting Schedule permanent installations

DOWNLOAD 2: temporary works by participants + Performance schedule

article Bünder Tagblatt

Wonderful article on the upcoming ART SAFIENTAL in today’s Bünder Tagblatt by Jano Felice Pajarola – download

Jaffa needs your clothes

Jaffa Lam‘s call in today’s local newspaper “Ruinaulta” – Please donate your clothes, bring it to Pension Alpenblick in Tenna or Tourist information in Versam until June 29. Thank you!

original note:

Hi my dear friends,
I’m an artist from Hong Kong, Jaffa Lam. I’m going to create a rainbow fabric bridge in between old and new bridge in Versam Switzerland. This will be an artwork to connect you and me , local residents and oversea guests from all over the world.

We do need your support by donating your clothes. Whatever new and old, any clothes in any colour, of course, would be great to have any bright colour from Rainbow. No matter size, no matter gender, no matter underwear, no matter jacket, no matter soft, no matter hard, we need your present in this work, to show who is living here. I hope 100 hundred clothes could be collected. More is appreciated.
I hope bird will see it, people in aeroplanes will see it, I do hope google will record it, this is a mark of your home place.
Show your colour to the world!

I will come to pick them up in Safiental on 28 and 29 June, in the same time, I would like to exchange them with my little recycled umbrella fabric work to show my appreciation. You could also drop the clothes in Alpenblick in Tenna (our Academy Centre) or at the Tourist office in Versam (until June 29).

Thank you so much. All my best,
Jaffa Lam

Preparation weekend 2

The second part of the faculty of the upcoming Alps Art Academy met in Safiental for location scouting and preparation. With: Les frères Chapuisat, Raumlaborberlin, Com&Com
Photos: Johannes M. Hedinger, Marcus Gossolt

Artoon by Pablo Helguera

Preview in Rhaeto-Romanic

Yesterday in La Quotidiana: Art ella cuntrada naturala dalla Val Stussavgia

First previews

Frist previews for the upcoming Alps Art Academy and Art Safiental appeared in the local newspaper RUINAULTA and Südostschweiz Online.  Link

Call for application closed

We are overwhelmed by the number and diversity of applications that have been submitted by artists and theorists from 29 different countries!
We will review all files and notify the selected candidates until 15 May.

Prep Weekend

Part of the faculty of the upcoming Alps Art Academy met in Safiental for location scouting and preparation. Up in the valley it was still snowy, while down in the valley everything is already blooming.
Photos: Filippo Minelli, Johannes M. Hedinger, Hanna Hölling, Jolanda Rechsteiner

Application deadline extended

Just a few places are still available as artists and scholars from India, Germany, USA, Taiwan, Syria, UK, Singapore, Lebanon, Switzerland, Poland, Zimbabwe, Greece, Austria, Irland, Thailand, Ukraine, Spain, Turkey etc are already in.
Artists, creators, theorists, curators, mediators are welcome to apply before May 7th.
Application

Call for Application

Applications are open to artists interested in working with nature and society as well as theoreticians and curators drawn to research and education aspects linked with Land Art. Workshops will be held in German and English. Applications are open until May 7^th 2016, and should be submitted with the downloadable application form. Accepted students will be informed by May 15.

Costs: CHF 800 / US 800 / EUR 730 (includes one week courses, accommodation and board). Travel expenses not included. Four grants will be awarded to students with financial need.

Application

Report on RTR

Report about the upcoming Alps Art Academy on RTR (Radiotelevisium Svizra Rumantscha)
(language: Rumantsch Grischun)