Oltre Terra, Formafantasma’s ongoing project and traveling exhibition, explores the history, ecology and global dynamics of wool extraction and production. It goes further than the simple definition of wool as material, to look at it within a much broader ecology. Wool is the entry point for delving into the intricate interactions and interdependencies within an ecosystem. By looking at the history of sheep domestication, wool production, and material culture, Oltre Terra unravels the complexities of the cooperative symbiosis between animals, humans and the environment. The exhibition explores this very intimate, yet complex, bond between humans and animals, emphasizing the impact they have on one another.

The setting of Oltre Terra offers a critical reimagining of the traditional diorama, often used in natural history museums to depict static scenes from nature. In this case, the diorama is expanded, featuring seven life-size reproductions of different sheep breeds, including the Dutch Drents Heideschaap, along with documents, films, byproducts from production processes, and various types of organic matter. Extensive captions, written by philosopher Emanuele Coccia, interpret these diverse materials and their interconnectedness.

At the heart of the exhibition is the video “Tactile Afferents,” created by artist Joanna Piotrowska and Formafantasma, co-produced by Nasjonalmuseet and Fondazione In Between Art Film. The film takes a unique approach to the exhibition’s themes, focusing on the sense of touch to explore co-domestication. It presents this concept both as an expression of interspecies tenderness and love, and as a form of violence. Oltre Terra also features a woolen carpet by cc-tapis, made from four different wool fibres sourced from 12 “rustic” Italian sheep breeds. Often discarded as low-grade material, these coarser fibres can still be used in products that are not in direct contact with the skin. Recycled wool bales by Manteco also play a key role in the exhibition’s design.