Review / Preview
SEASON’S GREETINGS to our friends, collaborators, partners, alumni, accomplices, visitors/readers and all interested parties of ILEA (Institute for Land and Environmental Art)
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
For the closing event of the Art Safiental Biennale I produced together with Thomas Rickenmann a video documentation of Ernesto Neto’s performance FROM EARTH TO EARTH, which is now available on Youtube.
Closing Event
Closing Event of the ART SAFIENTAL Biennale
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
Land Art Conference
3.10.2024: Kunstmuseum M. & Land Art Flevoland, Agora, Lelystad, NL
Why is land art particularly relevant today? What are its new manifestations? How do we deal with these often impermanent works of art? And how does land art shed light on the urgent ecological and social issues of today?
Through the Land Art Lives program, Kunstmuseum M. and Land Art Flevoland will jointly investigate these questions at an international conference scheduled for October 3, 2024, in Lelystad.
What is Land Art?
Land art is an idea, impulse, or movement that utilizes the landscape as a place for artistic creation. Art that is all about the landscape, that lets one experience it, experiment with it and reflect on it.
The early era of land art was closely associated with the anti-institutional ethos of the 1970s, as well as other art forms stemming from it, including performance, minimalism, conceptual art, and new media. Since then, the institutions that artists opposed at the time have embraced land art. The genre has evolved into a form of commissioned art, and its ideas have evolved accordingly. Meanwhile, a history, a canon, and a vibrant, multifaceted, and developing practice characterise the field.
Land art has been and continues to be created all over the world, from Russia and Japan to Brazil, America, and Europe. This art form is particularly associated with large-scale, monumental works of art situated in the vast American desert. It is clear that this image needs to be adjusted.
International Conference
On October 3, 2024, the supporting program of Land Art Lives will come together during an international conference in the Agora Theater in Lelystad. We will start the day with several international speakers. In the afternoon, parallel working sessions on the future of land art will take place. The day will be moderated by Meta Knol. In addition to the program, there is plenty of opportunity to meet and delve further into reading and archival material.
Speakers
Humberto Moro of the Dia Art Foundation (United States) will give a lecture on the ways Dia manages iconic land artworks in America and how they deal with current developments there. Afterwards, Anja Novak of the University of Amsterdam will discuss with him the Dia Art approach in the context of Flevoland. Britta Peters of Urbane Künste Ruhr (Germany) has years of experience at Skulptur Projekte Münster and talks about her programmatic approach in the Ruhr area. Lisa Le Feuvre of Holt/Smithson Foundation (United States) will join her in conversation after the event.
Afternoon sessions
Following this inspiring input, participants will engage in afternoon discussions. Various topics and questions will be discussed in a number of parallel sessions. What is the specific dynamic between land art and the public, and is there, in response to the major spatial task facing the Netherlands, reason for new land art? Three special guests will participate in each session, including Johannes M. Hedinger (ILEA), Marjolijn Dijkman (Enough Room for Space), Anne-Marie van der Weide (Mecanoo), Orlando Maaike Gouwenberg (Sonsbeek Foundation), Benno Tempel (Museum Kröller Müller), Simone Vermaat (RCE), Mieke Conijn (IJsselbiennale), Lydia Beerkens (SRAL) and many others.
The program team consists of the curators Anne Reenders (Kunstmuseum M.) and Martine van Kampen (Land Art Flevoland), Lot Meijers (production), Anne van de Dool (texts) and Michel Langendijk (communications).
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.
