WAC 2021 International Encounters
Conference WALKING AS A QUESTION
Sunday 4 July– Sunday 11 July 2021
_____________
HUB SARDINIA
“Caminu a Su Connottu”
IVYnode is opening a HUB Sardinia as part of the WAC 2021 International Encounters / Conference WALKING AS A QUESTION, organized by the Department of Fine and Applied Arts of the University of Western Macedonia in Greece.
The conference, headquartered in Prespa (Greece), will take place from 4 to 11 July with the activation of other HUBs in other parts of the world: Corsica, Brazil, Switzerland, UK, Canada, Chile, Argentina and Sardinia. The different HUBs, based anywhere in the world, wishes to organize a set of local events or activities that align with the Prespa Encounters / Conference theme–but which respond to questions and conditions within their own site/network/region.
The Conference and the Hubs “intend to reflect on the aesthetics of walking as an art practice. In contemporary art, the walking practice has become one of the main processes of exploring the cultural environment. As a consequence, a Walking Culture has been created, defined by a new realm of aesthetics and related to the interaction of the body with the Landscape (and vice versa); the artist or the cultural nomad interprets the landscape as an open field where he/she obtains experiences and, through them, develops ideas, concepts and his/her artwork. A particular set of emotions is created during the experience of walking in the landscape and that shapes a characteristic venue of art expression close to the concepts of Psychogeography” (Curatorial text WAC 2021 International Encounters)
HUB SARDINIA
HUB Sardinia aims to investigate how walking can be used to highlight or intervene in political, personal, social, economic and ecological issues. In this context, it would like to draw attention to an important issue that affects some rural areas of Sardinia, which have been deemed suitable for the construction of a radioactive waste repository.
In 2011, 97,13% of the population of Sardinia had expressed its opposition, in a referendum, to the installation of any nuclear power plants or sites for the storage of radioactive waste in Sardinia. On January 5 2021 it was published the CNAPI (National Map of Potentially Suitable Areas for the construction of a radioactive waste deposit in Italy), that identifies 67 elegible areas elegible. Among them appear also 22 rural municipalities in Sardinia.
Trough the practice of walking the Hub in Sardinia foresees two directions:
– Walking among the rural areas that have been indicated by the CNAPI as suitable for the storage of radioactive waste, with the intention to treate a moment of awareness towards environmental problems and the care of the territory.
– Discovering and reconnecting with the landscape, the territory and the culture of the specific rural areas. The Hub tries to find a link with the past and it perceives the practice of walking as a useful tool for rediscovering the natural / rural space. The intention is to explore by walking the old paths, some of them used as well by the ancient and mysterious Nuragic civilization (1800 BC).
The investigation will try to answer various questions: how the practice of walking can increase awareness on the problem of radioactive waste? Could it help to perceive the territory in a different way? Could it help in rediscovering the rural areas, which in many cases are unknown even to local populations? What other questions will arise during the event?
PROGRAM
The Hub will have as a station point NURRI, a small village in the center of Sardinia, which has been identified as a possible storage area for Nuclear Waste.
In Nurri we will walk around the territory, discovering abandoned old paths.
The practice and activities of walking are open not only to artists, but also to those who have a passion for walking and wish to join the initiative.
The program presents a series of activities that will be expanded and integrated through the proposals of local and international artists:
- Walk and cross some of the areas identified by the CNAPI in order to raise public awareness on this issue. Proposal to walk the 22 rural municipalities of the CNAPI also after the conference.
- “Caminu a Su Connottu”. Follow the abandoned or no used paths. The term “Su Connottu” is a word that in Sardinian language means “The Known”. It is often used poetically to refer to a very ancient and distant past, with a melancholy connotation that expresses a memory that has been lost. The elderly in Sardinia often say “Ta bellu chi si podiat torrai a Su Connottu”, “how nice it would be if we could return to“ Su Connottu ”, return to an idyllic time, far away, linked to the land and the territory. Only the toponyms, whose roots date back to an ancient era, and which have not undergone linguistic contamination, still bind the local population to that ancient past, which perhaps goes beyond the Nuragic civilization. “Su Connottu” is in relation with the territory, with nature, with the earth, but it could also have a metaphysical connotation, referring to the original principle of all things. How can the practice of walking help in the perception of “Su Connottu”, through a dialogue outside and inside, which involves one’s own inner rhythm of walking?
- Round table on the practice of walking in the local context. A moment to reflect on multiple aspects of the practice of walking in relation to the environment, the territory, progress, interactions, contemplation. It will be a moment to reflect on how and why the use of the car has replaced walking and on other aspects of walking that will emerge during the Sardinia Hub.
- Activities proposed by other artists that can take place from 4 to 11 with events, walks and more. The proposal to walk the 22 rural municipalities of the CNAPI during the whole month of July remains open.
- Land Art. The artist are also invited to use the natural landscape to create site-specific structures, art forms, and sculptures in the territory.
EXIBITION IN BARCELONA
All the activities and projects organized by the HUB Sardinia will be presented in autums in Barcelona at Souvenir, a space for artistic and cultural collaboration, with a focus on research, production and presentation of creative practices. The Exhibition will be curated by Herman Bashiron Mendolicchio, who is part of the Scientific Committee of the WAC 2021 International Encounters/Conference WALKING AS A QUESTION in Prespa and Ivana Pinna, Catalyst at IVYnode.
WALKING IN SARDINIA
Sardinia presents boundless landscapes, which are no longer crossed by man.
The countryside has always been synonymous with hard work since people used to walk back and forward to their houses in the village for long distances. Walking was associated with fatigue, labour and poverty. With the economic boom the cars became synonymous with wealth and well-being, and people started to avoid walking.
Nowadays the rural paths are not used anymore by the locals. Most of the people prefer to use the car even for short distances and are used to “passeggiare” by car, not on foot.
People walk together only during the religious processions or by accompanying someone who has died to the cemetery. In those moments walking takes on a meaning of intimate moment and union within the community, in which they huddle together, following a sort of march, everyone with the same rhythm.
In the past walking has been used in Sardinia as a collective and pacifical action.
– We can remember the march of Michele Columbu in 1965, walking 500km along the whole of Sardinia, from Cagliari to Ollolai, to Sassari, to ask for work and development for the inland and mountain areas. It was a protest against the conditions of backwardness in which the internal Sardinia areas were left not only by the central government but also by the regional one.
– In 1969 there was the anti-militarist popular revolt of Pratobello, with the march of 3500 citizens of Orgosolo, and they got that the army gave up the military exercises and withdrew.
– In 1976 there was the “First international march of nonviolent anti-militarists” in Sardinia, with the slogan “No more wars” accompanied by the Living Theater, an American theater company that runs throughout Sardinia.
THE TERRITORY
Sardinia is a land with a mysterious history, the territory has many archeological finds and more than 7000 nuraghi, dated 2000 a.c years ago. Nuraghi, Menirs, Domus de janas, Tombs of Giants built mostly between 3400 and 2700 BC, dated to the late Neolithic, Chalcolithic and early Bronze Age, are suggestive sites to explore. The participants will have the possibility to visit the archeological settle and paleontology investigation and be inspired by them.
Sardinia is also well known for his wonderful landscape and sandy beaches. It is even possible to organize some excursions to the coast and visit some of the best places of the island.
ACCOMODATION
The artists will have the possibility to camp with their own tent in the “Pineta di Nurri”, where mostly of the activities will take place.
The Comune of Nurri put at the disposal of the artist a “Congress Room”, situated in the Pineta, and the services/toilets/showers of the vevy close “Campo Sportivo”.
Who is looking for a more confortable and intimate stay there will be the possibility to book a room in the Hotel Istellas or in some Bed and Breakfast (the organization will help in having more info about it).
CALL FOR PAPERS, ARTISTIC PROJECTS, WALKSHOPS
Who is interested in the program are invited to apply.
Please send us the following information to: info@ivynode.com
Object of the email: HUB SARDINIA
- Bio, web link or other information about your art work or research
- Summary of proposal (description of the work you would like to do (max. 300 words)
- How your project (motivation) fits the theme “Caminu a Su Connottu” (max. 300 words)
DEADLINE: 15th of June
ROLLING ADMITION
(hereby you will find more information about the HUB Sardinia)
IVYnode at the moment is not able to provide any funding but we will be happy to assist you by writing official letters of invitation or any appropriate documentation.
The whole event is based on volunteering effort of many people, on the other hand we will give you, your work a visibility through our event and networks, including you and your activities also in our future activities.
Local and Technical Coordination: Ivana Pinna, Thomas Keis
International Coordination: Herman Bashiron Mendolicchio, Ivana Pinna
Collaboration: