Contemporary art is set to merge with the breathtaking alpine landscape of the South Tyrolean Dolomites, specifically at an impressive altitude of 2,275 meters. Via Artis, recognized as the world’s highest open-air exhibition path, which opened in 2024 on Plan de Corones (situated between Val Pusteria and Val di Marebbe), has announced a new open call. This invitation targets both local and national artists, urging them to conceive a site-specific artwork that will further enhance the trail. The initiative is proudly supported by the Dolomiti Region Plan de Corones via Skirama Kronplatz, in partnership with the LUMEN Museum of Mountain Photography.
Aspiring participants have a limited window, with applications closing on April 9th. The chosen project will be revealed by April 30th, with the installation slated for completion by July. The winning artist will receive a total contribution of 3,000 euros. For further details, inquiries can be sent to info@lumenmuseum.it.
The setting for this call is a 7.2-kilometer circular route that encircles the Concordia summit. During the summer months, Via Artis, conceived as an ongoing project, is easily accessible via the ski lifts from Brunico, Valdaora, and Passo Furcia. Currently, the path showcases nine works by artists from South Tyrol, Italy, Switzerland, and North Tyrol, strategically placed along a route that fosters a compelling dialogue between aesthetic experience and the natural environment.
The primary objective of this open call is to deepen this connection, inviting artists to envision an artwork that articulates the inherent tensions within the landscape: transience and regeneration, human presence versus natural surroundings, and the interplay between tourism and agricultural practices. Consequently, the proposed project must seamlessly integrate into the alpine context, prioritizing the use of natural or recycled materials—such as wood salvaged from trees affected by bark beetles—and demonstrating resilience to the harsh high-altitude climatic conditions.
Via Artis already functions as a layered narrative of the region. The existing artworks along the route delve into themes of historical memory, biodiversity, and climate change. For instance, Alpine Geometry by Alex Dorici introduces a geometric structure that frames the landscape, while Geweih (Verlust) by Wilma Kammerer reflects on natural cycles through the form of a monumental deer antler. With Broken Ice Core, Judith Neunhäuserer references glacial ice cores as climatic archives, and Ruth Oberschmied, with ruhend_palsé, reactivates the memory of alpine pastures. Other contributions, such as Terra Preta – Black Diamond by Rina Treml or Made 2 by Andreas Zingerle, explore the ambivalence of the relationship between humans and nature, affirming the project’s dedication to critically questioning the contemporary landscape.
