Formafantasma “Oltre Terra” at Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam

The project delves into the history, ecology, and global dynamics of wool extraction and production, exploring its connection to the biological evolution of sheep. “Oltre Terra” showcases materials, objects, and technologies in a multidisciplinary exhibition design, enhancing the viewer’s experience.

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.

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 setting of “Oltre Terra” offers a critical reimagining of the traditional diorama, often used in natural history museums to depict static scenes from nature. In this case, the diorama is expanded, featuring seven life-size reproductions of different sheep breeds, including the Dutch Drents Heideschaap, along with documents, films, byproducts from production processes, and various types of organic matter. By presenting materials, techniques, and living creatures together, the exhibition challenges current divisions between humans and animals, and between products and biological matter. Extensive captions, written by philosopher Emanuele Coccia, interpret these diverse materials and their interconnectedness.

At the heart of the exhibition is the video Tactile Afferents, created by artist Joanna Piotrowska and Formafantasma, co-produced by Nasjonalmuseet and Fondazione In Between Art Film. The film takes a unique approach to the exhibition’s themes, focusing on the sense of touch to explore co-domestication. It presents this concept both as an expression of interspecies tenderness and love, and as a form of violence. “Oltre Terra” also features a woolen carpet by cc-tapis, made from four different wool fibers sourced from twelve “rustic” Italian sheep breeds. Often discarded as low-grade material, these coarser fibers can still be used in products that are not in direct contact with the skin. Additionally, recycled wool bales by Manteco play a key role in the exhibition’s design.

at Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
until July 13, 2025