Weigh Station / Waag +3 and -1
What if we can imagine new ways of making and designing with the rough and itchy mountain wool?
As part of BAW Bolzano Art Weeks 2025, the public programme of Care x Wools warmly invites you to the third and final edition of its public programme, with N3 – Staying with the itchiness, Restare nel prurito, Dem Kratzen hingeben.
Taking place on October 3, 2025, this event includes a video installation showcasing a series of videos produced during earlier editions of the programme, along with a public talk and discussion with experts on the future of sheep breeding, sheep care, and mountain wool.
What are new ways that we can imagine to design and make with itchy mountain wool?
The talk brings together three experts from the wool production, design, and sheep breeding practices, policies and wellbeing, to open a dialogue about what it means to work with a material that has its own agency and resists fitting into the fine and, precise system of production. In the challenging and complex mountain context, how can local breeding practices and policies care for the wellbeing of sheep and their guardians while supporting sustainable local wool production? Can the roughness and itchiness of mountain wool become a strength that gives it a unique character? Inspired by philosopher Haraway’s concept of staying with the trouble, how can we learn to live with discomfort—staying with the itchiness—especially in times of crisis and fragility?
Moderated by designer and researcher Merve Bektaş (Free University of Bozen-Bolzano), the public event features three experts: Otto von Aufschnaiter, a textile engineer and co-founder of Aufburg; Christine Ladsätter, a designer with over 30 years of experience working with natural fibers in the apparel industry; and Barbara Mock, director of the Association of Small Animal Breeders of South Tyrol.
Video Installation h 15 – 20.00 @WAAG -1,
Open Talk h 18:00 @WAAG +3
Free admission
! Please note: Photo and video will be recorded during the event.
! Dress code: If possible, a wool garment from your wardrobe.
Public Program Care x Wools N3
With Otto von Aufschnaiter, Christine Ladstätter, Barbara Mock
Concept & Realisation Merve Bektaş and Seçil Uğur Yavuz
As parts of the project Feral Wool – iNEST, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
Realised within the Citizen Engagement (CC3) – iNEST
In collaboration with Weigh Station
Video and Editing Georg Zeller
With the support of Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano – Alto Adige, Ripartizione Cultura Italiana, Museum of Nature South Tyrol
Production assistant Angela Bonan
Care x Wools extends sincere thanks to all its guests:
Waltraud Schwienbacher, Sandra Hofer, Daniel Paratcha, Otto von Aufschnaiter, Christine Ladstätter, and Barbara Mock
Thanks to Franziska Schwienbacher, Dorothea Egger, Klara Egger, Norbert Gamper, Oliver Mitterer, Gertrud Maria Oberkofler
And to Frida, Sissi, Selina, Susi, Ute, Uli, Helga
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Care x Wools is a public program as parts of the Feral Wool research project within iNEST, aimed at shedding light on the precarious status of local wool and ‘shifting’ our human perspectives to notice other ecologies that are connected to wool, starting from the sheep’s point of view.
Sheep (Ovis aries) were among the first animals to be domesticated by human beings about 11,000 years ago. Not only humans, but also sheep decided to participate in this interaction. Through this reciprocal relationship, sheep provided humans with their meat, milk, and wool as well as transforming landscapes; humans in return provided them with care and protection. Nevertheless, today, tonnes of precious local wool are wasted due to globalization and industrial market standards. This is also a local reality in Südtirol/Alto Adige. How can we change the story?
Through the programme Care x Wools, we invite key actors from the region to uncover insights about local wool considering the aspect of care and fostering new imaginations to create preferable future narratives, bridging the rural and urban landscapes. What lessons can we learn from the sheep? What if the sheep tell us how to care for wool in tune with the cyclical rhythms of nature? What if we imagine new care practices for and with sheep? The series of videos, podcasts and public discussions with experts ranging from traditional crafts to design, from production to pastoralism, will explore the currently neglected status of wool, its ferality, and guide us to discover new horizons based on care.
The public programme is part of the Feral Wool research project within the activities of Citizen Engagement (CC3) of the iNEST “Interconnected Nord-Est Innovative Ecosystem” supported by European Union – Next Generation EU (iNEST ECS00000043 – CUP I43C22000250006) at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, realized by Seçil Uğur Yavuz and Merve Bektaş. The public program is in collaboration with Weigh Station and supported by Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano – Alto Adige, Ripartizione Cultura Italiana and Museum of Nature South Tyrol.