Abitante is a multidisciplinary artistic project born during the Falia* artistic residency, set in the disused quarry of Sommaprada in Lozio, Val Camonica. The work transforms this space into a living and vibrant stage where nature, memory, and art intertwine in a profound dialogue.

At the heart of the scene are eight fabrics crafted from old bedsheets donated by the local community and dyed with natural colors extracted from plants gathered in the area. The chosen colors embody the valley’s contrasts: the green of St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), a symbol of life and regeneration, and the brown of walnut husk, evoking the devastation caused by the spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus), which has ravaged vast forested areas of the region. These chromatic contrasts narrate the conflict between life and death, reflecting the tones of the Camonica landscape and intertwining intimately with the territory. The fabrics are further enriched by mother-of-pearl buttons derived from the mollusk Tectus conus, once processed in an ancient button factory in the valley. This detail connects nature, historical memory, and artisanal tradition, amplifying the symbolic significance of the work.

A female figure—a dancer—interacts with the fabrics, alternating movements of delicacy and strength. Her performance continuously transforms the arrangement of the fabrics, shifting their colours: green gives way to brown, and vice versa, in an unceasing cycle of rebirth and loss. Each gesture emphasizes humanity’s power to shape the landscape, whether to protect or destroy it. The dancer becomes a metaphor for humankind, both creator and destroyer, responsible for a fragile yet essential balance.

The moving fabrics become living symbols of a transforming landscape, reflecting the ongoing interaction between nature and human action. A soundtrack inspired by the valley’s natural elements enhances the experience. The flow of water, the crackle of fire, and the breath of the earth weave together into a sonic tapestry that transforms the quarry into a vibrant ecosystem.

Abitante is an invitation to reflect on human responsibility toward the land. Every gesture and trace left on the landscape becomes part of an ongoing dialogue between creation and destruction, in which life and death alternate like the colors of the fabrics. The work honors nature’s power to regenerate while also serving as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance at stake and the pressing need to safeguard humanity’s deep connection to the environment. In this ongoing dialogue, humans emerge as genuine inhabitants—both stewards and inseparable components of the landscape they call home.