Via del Sale Returns: Contemporary Art Trail Through Langhe and Monferrato
After a several-year hiatus, the Via del Sale initiative is relaunching across Alta Langa and Val Bormida, following ancient salt trade routes from France. The project, born in 2002 from a collaboration between French artist Jean Gaudaire-Thor, Silvana Peira (president of Il Fondaco di Bra), and writer Nico Orengo, celebrates its tenth edition curated by Peira and Marco Enrico Giacomelli. The trail spans seventy kilometers and ten locations, guided by the bends of the Bormida River. It features site-specific works by contemporary artists including Gianni Colosimo, Gioberto Noro, Gosia Turzeniecka, Maura Banfo, Hilario Isola, Barbara Bonfilio and Moira Franco, Paolo Grassino, AZAB, Fabio Viale, and Valerio Berruti. Venues range from castles and churches to a gypsotheque and a convent. The aim is to strengthen ties with local communities and highlight lesser-known landscapes through creative energy.
Key facts
- Via del Sale is an art trail across Alta Langa and Val Bormida, following ancient salt routes from France.
- The initiative was founded in 2002 by Jean Gaudaire-Thor, Silvana Peira, and Nico Orengo.
- The tenth edition is curated by Silvana Peira and Marco Enrico Giacomelli.
- The trail covers seventy kilometers and ten locations, guided by the Bormida River.
- Artists include Gianni Colosimo, Gioberto Noro, Gosia Turzeniecka, Maura Banfo, Hilario Isola, Barbara Bonfilio, Moira Franco, Paolo Grassino, AZAB, Fabio Viale, and Valerio Berruti.
- Venues include Castello di Monesiglio, Castello degli Scarampi, Torre di Camerana, Chiesa di Sant'Antonio, Pieve di Cortemilia, Oratorio di Santa Maria Immacolata, Castello di Monastero Bormida, Gipsoteca Giulio Monteverde, Fondazione Elisabeth de Rothschild, and Complesso Conventuale di San Francesco.
- Fabio Viale's sculpture 'Bride' (2013) at Fondazione Elisabeth de Rothschild depicts a hand with tattoos evoking child brides.
- Valerio Berruti's frescoes on jute canvas, originally made for the 'Magnificat' exhibition at Keumsan Gallery in Seoul, are shown in Italy for the first time.
Entities
Artists
- Jean Gaudaire-Thor
- Silvana Peira
- Nico Orengo
- Marco Enrico Giacomelli
- Gianni Colosimo
- Sergio Gioberto
- Marilena Noro
- Gosia Turzeniecka
- Maura Banfo
- Hilario Isola
- Barbara Bonfilio
- Moira Franco
- Paolo Grassino
- Alessia Zuccarello
- Alessandra Barilla
- Fabio Viale
- Valerio Berruti
- Arianna Testino
Institutions
- Il Fondaco di Bra
- Castello di Monesiglio
- Castello degli Scarampi
- Torre di Camerana
- Chiesa di Sant'Antonio
- Pieve di Cortemilia
- Oratorio di Santa Maria Immacolata
- Castello di Monastero Bormida
- Gipsoteca Giulio Monteverde
- Fondazione Elisabeth de Rothschild
- Complesso Conventuale di San Francesco
- Keumsan Gallery
- Artribune
Locations
- Alta Langa
- Val Bormida
- France
- Monesiglio
- Saliceto
- Camerana
- Contrada
- Cortemilia
- San Giorgio Scarampi
- Monastero Bormida
- Bistagno
- Rivalta Bormida
- Cassine
- Alba
- Cuneo
- Torino
- Santa Severina
- Rosta
- Opoczno
- Belvedere Marittimo
- Cosenza
- New York
- Caltagirone
- Seoul
- Italy