An open-air museum in the heart of Ogliastra, where art and landscape intertwine in a timeless dialogue.
With the project "Ulàssai: where nature meets art", the small Sardinian town is preparing to experience a 2025 full of cultural events, thanks to the funds of the Pnrr – NextGenerationEU. The initiative, promoted by the Fondazione Stazione dell'Arte in collaboration with the Municipality of Ulàssai, aims to transform the town into a permanent artistic laboratory, enhancing the cultural, social and economic heritage of the territory.
The planned interventions range from the restoration of public spaces to the valorization of the material and immaterial heritage, with particular attention to the artistic legacy of Maria Lai .
The Camuc – Casa Museo Cannas, located in the heart of the village, will be transformed into a point of reference for contemporary art, hosting exhibitions, laboratories, conferences and workshops. Thanks to the recent restoration, the museum complex will be completely accessible and will become a meeting place for artists and visitors, promoting dialogue between the territory and contemporary artistic trends.
In parallel, the Stazione dell'Arte, already custodian of the vast collection donated by Maria Lai to her community, will undergo a major redevelopment. Starting in March, the museum will reopen with an ever-evolving layout, designed to constantly renew itself throughout the year . In addition to the permanent exhibition dedicated to Maria Lai, the museum will host temporary exhibitions and interdisciplinary projects, creating new connections.
On March 8, a complex program of contemporary art exhibitions will begin, curated by art historian Marco Peri, with the aim of creating connections between international artists and the territory.
The exhibition program, which will end on November 29, unfolds through three central moments: the solo exhibition of artist and designer Carolina Melis, which explores the relationship between generative art, graphic stories and animation. The charm of surprise: an unprecedented encounter between Maria Lai and Joan Mirò, two artists who never met in life, but linked by a common poetic universe of signs and symbols. And “Sight is not yet a look”: a reflection on contemporary social, environmental and cultural issues, with works from the collection of the Associazione Genesi placed in dialogue with those of Maria Lai.
In addition to the exhibitions, the project includes a series of collateral activities: laboratories, workshops, meetings with artists and conferences on the role of contemporary art in Sardinia. Particular attention will be paid to young audiences and schools, with educational courses aimed at making art an inclusive and participatory experience.
The Mayor of Ulàssai, Giovanni Soru, underlines the importance of this project for the territory : «We want to make Ulàssai a point of reference for contemporary art, valorizing the legacy of Maria Lai and creating new opportunities for the community».
Curator Marco Peri adds: «Care and Future are the key words of this project. The first invites us to preserve memories and places, the second to look forward, promoting sustainability and innovation».