Diaries of South Tyrol

Nestled within the embrace of the majestic Alps, South Tyrol beckons with an energy as vibrant as its diverse landscapes. Craggy, snow-capped peaks draped in the ethereal glow of sunrise cast a mesmerising tapestry over the quaint villages that dot the valleys below. Walking the cobbled streets, you can feel the heartbeat of a region that wears its dual cultural identity with pride; locals who effortlessly switch between German and Italian welcome you with warm smiles. Here, time seems to dance between the echoes of ancient traditions and the pulse of modernity, creating a symphony of contrasts that defines the very essence of South Tyrol.

SLEEK went on a three-day journey to discover South Tyrol’s landscapes and traditions through encounters with various local artists. We visit Kirnig, the innovative mushroom cultivators; Jasmine Deporta, a visual artist whose work is a blend between dream and reality; Zilla, whose uniquely shaped, minimalist handbags push the bounds of materiality; and finally, Solos Aquaponic Farm, which focuses on local and resource-efficient means of farming. 

Captured through the lens of photographer Kurt Bauer, Diaries of South Tyrol documents an intimate portrait of these artists’ lives and their relationship to the land.

Kirnig

Behind Kirnig, the South Tyrolean mushroom cultivator, are two innovative young farmers: Andreas from Koflhof and Josef from Thalhof in Aldein. The name translates to ‘vital and powerful’, and the duo tries to live up to it by cultivating prized organic culinary mushrooms all year round – from shiitake through king trumpet mushrooms to oyster mushrooms. With respect for nature, their mushrooms are grown organically at an altitude of 1,500 metres. They also grow apples, blueberries, cherries and wine grapes, as well as keeping piglets and dairy cows.

S: What does South Tyrol mean to you, and how does it influence your practice?

For us, on a personal level, South Tyrol first and foremost means a very strong connection to the land, its people and, last but not least, its unique culture and tradition. In relation to our business, South Tyrol means above all the demand for the highest quality.

 S: How did you get into mushroom cultivation? What inspired you?

As friends and farmers, we have always been looking for an additional mainstay for our businesses. We wanted a product with a future – a product that is truly of our times. When we came up with the idea of culinary mushrooms, we were immediately convinced. Mushrooms are a very nutritious food that impresses not only with its flavour but also with its nutritional value, components and vitamins.

 S: What have you learned from working so closely with mushrooms?

On the one hand, it is wonderful to witness the growth of such a high-quality product. On the other hand, you also realise time and again that not everything in nature can be controlled and influenced – that you simply have to let things take their course.

Jasmine Deporta

Jasmine Deporta is a visual artist born in South Tyrol and currently living and working in Lausanne, Switzerland. Echoing her surroundings and relationships, her works are a personal reflection on longing and identity. She merges performative gestures, intimate encounters, and everyday symbolism into new scenarios and reveals a visual imagery that preserves a raw honesty.

SLEEK: What does South Tyrol mean to you and how does it influence your practice?

Jasmine: South Tyrol is my roots. I’m deeply connected to the Alpine culture I was surrounded by when growing up. Being exposed to such a characteristic environment for the majority of your life has an inevitable impact on you and this influence naturally finds itself within my work. I’d say It has a romantic side to it but at the same time it can be ominous.

S: How does the camera allow you to navigate your feelings and experiences of the world around you?

J: In my practice, the camera serves as an extension of my eyes. Through the lens, I try to give space to the present, as well as to coincidence and intuition within my creative process. This helps me to translate emotions and observations into visual narratives.

S: Do you find the act of taking pictures to be a meditative practice?

J: I never felt it as a meditative practice. I would rather say that it is a performance.

Aron Demetz

Aron Demetz is an Italian sculptor who primarily uses traditional woodcarving techniques to create standing naked figures. Some are realistic with smooth skin and intricate expressions, while others are more surreal. Exploring the possibilities of wood as a medium, Demetz’s sculptures often convey his preoccupation with humanity’s relationship to nature.

SLEEK: What does South Tyrol mean to you and how does it influence your practice?

Aron: I believe that every place has an influence on an artist’s work. Cultures and landscapes touch us and have the ability to impact what we do. This is certainly the case with a border country like South Tyrol where languages, cultures and tourism from all over the world meet. Then there’s the strong landscape, the way of life and respect for nature. It’s certainly very different than if I had been born in NY.

S: Your work explores the interplay of humanity and nature. How would you describe your personal relationship with the earth?

A: I have always been concerned with the very fundamental questions of being human. In my sculptures, I have tried to find a unity between materiality and nature, between statement and idea and to package this in the physicality of a human figure. My main material is the wood from my homeland, which I use and feel, and I try to breathe new life into and give a new chance. I don’t want to presume to improve the world but it’s an attempt to approach it respectfully and to think about where people could be more sensitive.

S: Do you see your work as an extension of environmental activism/conservation?

A: I’ve been working in this way for many years now. Firstly, it’s about treating each other with respect and humanity. This also applies to nature. If everyone does their part, the world will become a better place. But it’s not my concern to explore environmental activism in my work. Instead, I’m more concerned with art and the free spirit that lies within it. I’m looking for both of them.

Zilla

Zilla is a contemporary bag brand that explores unusual approaches to texture, materiality, structure and function in design. Founded in 2005 by Sylvia Pichler, the brand repurposes materials and offers a new life in an altered shape. Pichler’s father, an architect,  instilled into her a profound love for haptic experiences. She ultimately became an architect herself, transforming her vision of materials and design into uniquely shaped, minimalist handbags.

SLEEK: What does South Tyrol mean to you and how does it influence your practice?

Sylvia Pichler: This tiny place on earth means more than home to me. Bolzano, where I live and work, is a cosy city surrounded by incredible natural landscapes. When you do a creative job, you need a silent and calm place to focus on your thoughts and ideas

S: How do you select the materials that you repurpose? Do you feel connected to them emotionally?

SP: The touch and the appearance of materials are the base of my creations, and so I naturally feel very connected emotionally. The selection follows research that started over 20 years ago when I started experimenting unusual mediums to make bags with: air filters, sponges, silicones and many different metallic foils. That base of innovation is still involved in our contemporary work. 

S: The durability of architectural materials is crucial for a building’s longevity. How do you ensure the durability and longevity of your handbags designs, considering the wear and tear they may endure?

SP: Every bag has a different use that can influence the durability and longevity. Some purses are more sculptures and are made of a more delicate material. Others are more sturdy and can be of everyday use, a companion for all occasions and seasons. Some of our bags can be worn in different ways, which allow them to have a more chic or a more casual appearance.

Solos Aquaponic Farm

Co-founded by Matthäus Kircher, Solos is an innovative startup from Tramin where fresh and healthy food is produced using a scalable aquaponics system. Aquaponics is a process that combines fish farming and vegetable cultivation in one cycle – making it  a resource-saving, year-round, local and space-saving solution to industrial agriculture. Kircher believes that aquaponics is a way in which farmers can rethink the future of agriculture to consider its ecological impact. 

SLEEK: What does South Tyrol mean to you and how does it influence your practice?

Kirchner: For us, South Tyrol defines the field in which I can make a difference. However, I consider the whole Earth to be my home. This attitude enriches me greatly but it also makes me realise the responsibility that we as humans collectively bear for it. In times in which we are confronted with a climate crisis, the massive extinction of species and the depletion of natural resources, a planetary perspective has become indispensable. South Tyrol, with its individual beauty, is embedded in this world and we as its inhabitants must think carefully about what traces we leave behind in it.

S: How has your connection to nature evolved through farming?

K: Agricultural work shows me many things: the elegance of rhythms, the irrepressible power of living organisms, the span from the microcosm to the macrocosm which far exceeds my imagination. When I am reminded of the time span in which life on earth is already active and that humans symbolise a mayfly in comparison, then I can feel a deep humility and great fascination. 

S: What advice do you have for individuals who want to develop a deeper connection to nature, whether through gardening, small-scale farming, or simply spending more time outdoors?

K: It is wonderful that we can develop a deeper connection to nature on various dimensions – be it rational, emotional or spiritual. In this respect, this relationship can be strengthened through the most banal everyday actions. I can encounter the deeper connection in meticulous laboratory work under the microscope, or on a walk through the woods in winter, when my breath mingles with the aromas of the soil, the trees and the processes of decay. Whichever path suits me best, I become unmistakably aware that I am nature myself and that this connection is omnipresent.

As featured in SLEEK 79 – MOTHER. Available in print and digital here.

CREDITS

Photography: Kurt Bauer
Art Direction & Creative Production: Claude Gerber
Creative Production: Kamal Emanga, Jule Nötzel
Photography Assistant: Rupert Rechling