Design Studio FormaFantasma on the Exhibition Oltre Terra. Why Wool Matters. 13 September 2023
In the exhibition Oltre Terra. Why Wool Matters, on view at the National Museum, Oslo, 26 May–1 October 2023, the multidisciplinary design studio Formafantasma investigates the history, ecology and global dynamics of the extraction and production of wool. The name of the exhibition stems from the etymology of the word transhumance, formed by the combination of the Latin words trans (across, 'oltre' in Italian) and humus (grounds, 'terra').
The project seeks to avoid the simplistic definition of wool as just a material, and to expand its understanding within a much broader ecology. Wool is the entry point to explore and investigate an intricate realm of interactions and interdependencies within an ecosystem. By looking at the development of wool production, artefacts history and material culture, Oltre Terra aims at unravelling the complexities of the cooperative symbiosis between animals, humans, and the environment.