SARP GOES TO DOLOMITES
1 - 30 January 2026 Parkhotel Mondschein Bolzano, Trentino Alto-Adige.
SARP in Bolzano: Art, Erosion, and Extreme Landscapes
In January, SARP spent a reflective and energizing period in Bolzano, nestled in the heart of the South Tyrol and framed by the dramatic peaks of the Dolomites. Based at the historic Parkhotel Mondschein, the residency unfolded as a dialogue between art, geology, and community — shaped by the dynamic landscape that defines the region.
A Setting Shaped by TimeBolzano is a city where cultures meet and landscapes speak. The Dolomites, with their pale limestone faces and jagged silhouettes, stand as monumental evidence of erosion — slow, persistent, transformative. This environment became both backdrop and catalyst for SARP’s time in residence.
Parkhotel Mondschein, with its layered history and contemporary sensibility, provided an ideal setting for reflection and exchange. From here, conversations extended outward into the city’s vibrant cultural institutions.
Engaging with Bolzano’s Contemporary Art Scene During their stay, SARP visited Museion, Bolzano’s museum of modern and contemporary art. Known for its strong engagement with experimental and cross-disciplinary practices, Museion offered a platform for considering how contemporary artists address themes of environment, materiality, and social responsibility.
The residency also included a visit to Fondazione Antonio Dalle Nogare, an institution dedicated to supporting artistic research and dialogue. The foundation’s commitment to thoughtful curation and long-term artistic engagement resonated deeply with SARP’s own approach — one rooted in process, place, and exchange.
Erosion: Dolomites versus Etna A central theme of the residency was the idea of erosion — explored through the contrasting landscapes of the Dolomites and Mount Etna.
The Dolomites tell a story of sedimentation and uplift, of coral reefs transformed into mountains and slowly carved by wind, water, and ice. Their erosion is gradual, sculptural, almost architectural.
Etna, by contrast, represents a volatile and generative force. Its landscape is continuously reshaped by eruption, lava flows, and ash deposits. Where the Dolomites erode through subtraction, Etna builds through accumulation — destruction and creation intertwined. This dialogue between the two landscapes — one defined by ancient marine origins and alpine weathering, the other by active volcanic transformation — framed discussions throughout the residency. Together, they form a meditation on time: deep time, explosive time, and human time.
Giving Back: A Public Talk on January 22nd 2026
As part of SARP’s commitment to community engagement, the residency culminated in a public talk on January 22, offering insights into the research and ideas developed during their stay.
The event brought together local audiences, artists, and thinkers for an evening of exchange.
Ben Cullen Williams recounted his extraordinary expeditions to both the Artic circles, reflecting on endurance, isolation, and the stark beauty of polar environments. His stories highlighted landscapes at the extremes — places where climate, fragility, and resilience are experienced at their most immediate.
Francesco Vullo presented his approach to stone-making, exploring material transformation as both artistic and geological process. His work engages directly with questions of permanence and change, echoing the broader themes of erosion and formation that shaped the residency.
Together, their contributions bridged exploration and material practice — from polar ice to volcanic rock, from mountain sediment to crafted stone.