Formafantasma's 'Oltre Terra' Explores Human-Sheep Co-Domestication at Oslo's National Museum

The Italian design duo Formafantasma (Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin) have created 'Oltre Terra. Why wool matters' at the National Museum of Norway in Oslo, running until October 1, 2023. The exhibition examines the 11,000-year history of co-domestication between humans and sheep, focusing on wool production's ecological and cultural impact. Divided into eight sections, it uses an exploded diorama format to display life-sized sheep breeds, wool samples, documents, and films. A central video installation, made with Polish artist Joanna Piotrowska (born 1985, Warsaw), explores themes of touch and consent in human-animal relations. Visitors sit on a carpet woven from four 'rustic' Italian sheep fibers, typically considered low-quality, highlighting the duo's commitment to circular design. The exhibition also features footage of the Mamuthones dance, a Sardinian ritual where performers mimic animals, pointing to animist traditions. Formafantasma worked with artists, philosophers, and scientists, framing the show as a 21st-century design exhibition about production and its consequences.