The silent patterns of the bark beetle on display at Lagazuoi

From 18 July to 6 September Lagazuoi Expo Dolomiti is hosting “Silent patterns. The intricate galleries of the European spruce bark beetle”, an exhibition by the artist Silvia Canton with scientific curation by the University of Padua. Lagazuoi Expo Dolomiti, inaugurated in 2018 at the cable car’s top station at 2,732 metres, is an exhibition and cultural space dedicated to the contemporary mountain environment.

The project brings together contemporary art and research to tell the story of the transformations of Alpine forests affected by the bark beetle. For more than three years, Silvia Canton has been collecting the bark of infested trees in the woods of Bellunese and Trentino, and in sawmills. A material destined to deteriorate is transformed into a work of art and a testimony to a changing landscape.

The vision of the artist Silvia Canton

Preserving and reassembling this bark means safeguarding the memory of forest ecosystems and prompting reflection on the relationship between people and nature, the artist explains: «As an artist, reassembling this wood and allowing it to be passed on is a necessary act. The bark I collect in the woods is destined to deteriorate, but it tells a story that belongs to all of us. Transforming it into works means preserving its memory and giving voice to a landscape that is changing, so that reflection and a new awareness of the essential bond between people and nature may emerge».

The exhibition involves lecturers and researchers from the University of Padua and is supported by the DAFNAE and TESAF Departments. The scientific contribution makes it possible to explore in greater depth the phenomenon of the European spruce bark beetle, its effects on Alpine forests, and the challenges linked to climate change and the sustainable management of forest heritage.

For lecturer Massimo Faccoli, among the scientific curators, the project demonstrates how dialogue between art and research can make complex topics accessible to the public and foster greater environmental awareness.

«Hosting a project that brings together art and science means offering new tools to understand the transformations of the Dolomites and their forests», emphasises Stefano Illing, creator of Lagazuoi Expo Dolomiti.

The “Emergenza Bostrico” project

Since 2024 the University of Padua has been promoting the “Emergenza Bostrico” fundraising campaign to support research on the parasite and the protection of forests.
Donations have already made it possible to fund a three-year PhD scholarship at the DAFNAE Department. The campaign continues in support of the activities of the TESAF Department, engaged in developing new strategies for the forests of the future.