PAST ART RESIDENCIES

Monte / Verità​ - Cultivating Alternative Realities: creative communal living for envisioning interconnected, regenerative futures

​​Collaborator: Juliette Westerink​

Residents:

• Giulia Menicucci

• Sarah Mestmacher

• Sarah van Eijk

• Siobhan Bell

• Suzette Bousema

• Carlyn Westerink

• Nastia Svarevska

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The Monte Verità: Cultivating a New Reality residency brought together an interdisciplinary group for two weeks in Cairo Montenotte, a town in the mountains of Liguria, Italy. Organized by SOPRA SOTTO, led by Constance van Berckel and Juliette Westerink, the residency was a living laboratory for creative exploration and communal living. Inspired by the early 20th-century Monte Verità art commune, participants embraced slowness and simplicity to reconnect with nature and each other. Through workshops, dialogues, and shared experiences, they explored regenerative practices, synergetic systems, and perspectives beyond the human-centered view, drawing inspiration from both ancient wisdom and the surrounding landscape.

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The program was co-created by its residents, each contributing workshops and creative sessions, from bird flocking dances and nature drawing to poetry, song harmonization, and self-portraiture. Playful moments and shared rituals—like bonfires, communal meals, and Valentine’s Day celebrations—deepened their connection. The group bonded not just with each other but also with the local wildlife, including wild cats and Giulia’s dog, Sam. Encounters with the local community, like a wood-fired pizza night with Claudio and a farewell dance at La Perla, added to the richness of the experience. Through this immersive gathering, the residency cultivated a sense of interconnectedness, leaving lasting impressions of creativity, community, and shared exploration.

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Partner:

'Il Gattopardo Residency' of Annelies van der Pauw and Martin de Koning