Refugia

*Refugia* is a collective exploration of refuges as potential sites of regeneration in a world facing a planetary crisis.

At a time when survival depends on radical collaboration between humans, flora, fauna, and bacteria, this project questions what forms of artistic sharing can still be proposed today.

The concept of *Refugia*—originally used in climate crisis literature to describe isolated pockets where life persists against environmental threats—has evolved in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The idea now speaks to the necessity of creating metaphorical refuges, spaces where recovery, resistance, and renewal can occur despite mounting global challenges.

Four artists (Aglaia Haritz, Corina Rauer, Anna-Sabina Zürrer, and Abdelaziz Zerrou) have come together to examine how these fluid, ambiguous territories of refuge can inspire artistic creation. The project is set in the peri-urban agricultural site of Vira Gambarogno, nestled by Lago Maggiore in the Swiss canton of Ticino. Over the course of two weeks, we will engage in discussions, research, and artistic production, translating our reflections into multidisciplinary works ranging from objects, video, photography, sound installations, and performances.

Rather than focusing solely on survival, *Refugia* emphasizes their regenerative potential. In an era marked by the melting of glaciers, raging wildfires, and the tragic losses of the pandemic, this project calls for a collective reimagining of refuge—biological, cultural, political, and technological. It also invites us to confront the irreversible losses we must mourn as a society, while seeking pathways to partial, yet resilient recovery.