19 - 27 June 2018 - Sardinia
A Call to Origins
A Becomebecome Art Residency, Exhibition, and Symposium in Sardinia, Italy
About
Becomebecome's 4th nomadic residency and exhibition program took place in the island of Sardinia and was developed in collaboration with local partners IVYnode, the Monastery of Santa Rosa, and the Municipalities of Nurri and Ulassai. This full-immersive journey investigated practical approaches to the theme 'A Call to Origins'. During this 9-day residency in the heart of Sardinia, we had a unique opportunity to transform, make, and exhibit work made by resident artists in the Monastery of Nurri and the surrounding area. BecomeBecomers also participated in the 1st Symposium on Transdisciplinary Narratives organized in collaboration with Stazione dell'Arte - Museum of Contemporary Art.
Our theme revolved around the following questions: What does it mean to connect to 'origins'? Are they located in the past, the future, both? What role do one's surroundings play in connecting to one's roots? Can we connect to our roots through someone else's work? The choice of Sardinia with its rich countryside and astounding past drew all participants towards a calm environment, resplendent with history, mystery, and ancestral inspiration- characteristics that are ideal to build on the transdisciplinary and transpersonal qualities that Becomebecome residencies are known for. Through a range of hands-on labs, perception strategies, and subconscious expeditions guided by dreams and body-labs, our peer-to-peer methodology helped bring forth effective inspiration and create unexpected new developments for the various projects proposed by the participants.
We visited places of archeological interest known for their strong mystical appeal and we explored the territory, connecting with nature and the surrounding area. Participating artists, researchers, and curators had an opportunity to engage in fruitful dialogue with participants from all over the world while also connecting with the local community. The natural environment helped move beyond the ordinary routines of each participant's work and access a unique sensory landscape where new ideas, and connections triggered fresh insight.
Exhibition
As a sponsor of Becomebecome Sardinia, the Municipality of Nurri opened the doors of the Monastery of Santa Rosa to our artists, researchers, and curators ​for an exhibit at a stunningly unique location. The Monastery complex dates back to the 17th century and presents a large number of rooms and outdoor spaces to accommodate anything from traditionally hung work to large-scale installations. Unlike traditional shows, Becomebecome exhibits showcase work-in-progress as a way to encourage process-based approaches to art and feedback from the community. This feedback affects long-term changes in the participants' creative patterns and is key to the evolution of the work which continues beyond the days of the residency.
Symposium
In addition to the exhibit, Becomebecomers were invited to participate in the 1st Becomebecome Symposium on Transdisciplinary Narratives organised with and hosted by Stazione dell'Arte Contemporary Art Museum. This open invitation to exchange ideas within a set range of time parameters, but using any format and language chosen by the presenters, empowered all participants to create daring project presentations, flash labs, and talks that were original and astounding. These exceptional contributions made the symposium a truly inspiring and evocative experience for all who attended the event. Becomebecome participants are always given a platform to present art and research that is distributed, peer-to-peer, process-based, and grow beyond the limits of conventional art spaces to reach individuals of local and global communities.
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One of the reasons that inspired us to choose our partner institution for the symposium was the idea of 'museo diffuso', from well-known Sardinian artist Maria Lai as it is strongly connected to the theme of 'origins' and 'transdisciplinary narratives'. Throughout her artistic and personal trajectory, Maria used diverse outdoor and indoor spaces to present engaging work which grows beyond the boundaries of traditional art spaces. She is considered one of the major italian artists of the 20th Century and her pieces have been exhibited at the 2017 Venice Biennial. Stazione dell'Arte Contemporary Art Museum., in addition to showing her work, is committed to engaging in local and international dialogue on creative ways to involve viewers and artists on the theme of 'origins'.
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The Territory
The territory of Sardinia offered an extraordinary concentration of past traces with its many settlements of great archaeological interest that have turned into cultural points of reference. Nuraghi, Menirs, Domus de janas, and the Tombs of Giants were built between 3400 and 2700 BC, and dated to the late Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and early Bronze Age. Many other compelling sites also made for an invaluable source of inspiration on the theme of origins. An exciting program of site-specific visits and other exploration options were available to all participants in the residency.
Media Trace
The Becomebecome residency Sardinia 2018 was truly a unique and powerful project for all people involved. Here you can find a collection of moments that marked our experience together.