Oltre Terra

Alongside the major Kiefer exhibition, the Stedelijk Museum is hosting Oltre Terra, a research project by design studio Formafantasma on the history, ecology and impact of wool production. In their diorama set-up, the boundaries between humans and animals are blurred.

While humans have shaped sheep through domestication, sheep have significantly influenced human history by providing wool – the boundaries between tamer and tamed are still constantly shifting. The exhibition examines the layered connections between humans and sheep, addressing the economic and ethical implications of extracting materials from living creatures.

The Italian exhibition title, Oltre Terra, draws from the etymology of “transhumance,” combining the Latin trans (across, “oltre” in Italian) and humus (ground, “terra” in Italian). Transhumance describes the seasonal movement of livestock between grazing areas. Similarly, the idea of “crossing grounds” reflects the exhibition’s transdisciplinary approach, developed through collaborations with designers, artists, anthropologists, evolutionists, legal experts, curators, shepherds, and farmers.

Cover Image: Formafantasma, ‘seasonal transhumance’, 2022, Alagna Valsesia, Piëmonte, Italië © Formafantasma. Foto: Gregorio Gonella