Greetings from South Tyrol

“Greetings from South Tyrol!” – This phrase, which nostalgically evokes the idyllic postcard image of steep mountain peaks against a sky-blue backdrop, lush meadows, grazing cows, and pointed church towers, aims to break down these images frozen in our minds and consciously address the intersections between tradition and innovation. The focus is on the rethinking and sensitization that has been initiated over the last decade and is currently noticeable in the way the Alpine region is dealt with from the perspective of contemporary architecture and art.

Six leading architectural firms in the region are packaging their construction projects together with their creative vision of South Tyrol's landscape and culture in an object designed by each of them that is reminiscent of a suitcase. Each firm is accompanied by an artist to blur the boundaries between architecture and art. The interplay in the form of art in architecture or integrative art projects opens up new perspectives on South Tyrol. The filled suitcases contain more than just plans and photos of completed buildings—they convey a contemporary aesthetic that questions and renegotiates quality, innovation, and mindfulness in our dealings with people and nature. The six suitcases, which are identical in shape and size, then go on a journey as transport containers and manifestations of South Tyrolean architecture and art projects.

“Greetings from South Tyrol!” is a reflection on the responsibility that comes with travel, tourism, transit, and the ecological and economic challenges that accompany them. An additional empty suitcase accompanies the journey and is filled with memories, impressions, and souvenirs during the various stops. This exhibition tells the story of a journey that is more than just a physical movement from one place to another—it is a journey of encounters, exchange, and inspiration. With every journey, you take a piece of the place you visit with you in some form and leave a piece of yourself behind. Every journey is different, each tells its own story, and yet all journeys are based on the same sequence of departure, stay, and return. Parallels can be drawn here with the creation of buildings. The departure is comparable to making initial contact and planning. This phase arouses curiosity and creates expectations. The actual stay corresponds to the construction phase, where bonds and affiliations are established and boundaries are explored. The return journey is equivalent to arrival, to the completion of one's own project and the energy that drives wanderlust, the desire for new journeys and new challenges.

Exhibiting architecture firms and artists

bergmeisterwolf, IT-Brixen bergmeisterwolf.it with Michael Fliri michaelfliri.com

CeZ Architetti, IT-Bolzano with Josef Rainer josefrainer.net
MARKUS SCHERER, IT-Meran architektscherer.it with Manfred Alois Mayr manfredaloismayr.com
pedevilla architects, IT-Bruneck pedevilla.info with Gustav Willeit guworld.com
weber+winterle architetti, IT-Trento weberwinterle.com with Arnold Mario Dall’O @arnoldmariodallo
Werner Tscholl, IT-Morter werner-tscholl.com

Photo credit: Schliersee Kulturherbst 2024 (c) Judith Weber