Lament by Margherita Pevere – COAL Prize, Transformative Territories Mention

The Resilient Scars Map. Courtesy of ForestWISE

A Journey Through Burnt Landscapes

As part of her research, Margherita Pevere collaborated with Penov to explore the sonic and material qualities of post-fire environments. They conducted fieldwork on the Karst Plateau, on the Italian-Slovenian border, a region severely affected by wildfires in 2022. In these charred landscapes, Penov documented the altered resonances of burnt trees and the spectral richness of carbonised wood. Pevere also studied soil regeneration processes, discovering patches of Funaria hygrometrica moss—one of the first species to colonise carbon-rich soils—illustrating nature’s resilience in the face of destruction.

Community Resilience and Collective Memory

Beyond scientific exploration, Lament extends into community engagement. Margherita Pevere collaborated with environmentalist Céline Charveriat and Pro(to)topia to explore the resilience of communities affected by wildfires. In early 2024, they travelled to Santa Comba Dão, Portugal, a town devastated by fires in 2017. Through discussions, walks, and collective creative sessions, they co-created the Resilient Scars Map, a canvas representation of community memory and recovery. This map was later integrated into Lament‘s exhibition in Brussels and will eventually return to the community as a lasting symbol of resilience.

The project benefited from the expertise and participation of Santa Comba Dão’s residents, including local actors involved in post-fire restoration. This participatory approach documented the community’s regeneration strategies, from reforestation with adapted species to the implementation of resilient agroecological systems. Lament thus becomes not only an artistic project but also a platform for transmitting local knowledge on rebuilding after an environmental catastrophe.

A Poetic Encounter with Post-Fire Landscapes

Presented as an installation and performance, Lament immerses the audience in a space where life and death intertwine. The installation features an environment resembling a deathbed—white, with traces of earth scattered across a milky floor. Suspended above, one hundred organically shaped glass sculptures contain soil microbes, charcoal, and moss collected by Pevere in Karst. These elements undergo a process of bioremediation, a technique that helps balance soil alkalinity after a fire, facilitated by pioneering moss species. Over time, these living components interact within the glass sculptures, making Lament a constantly evolving work.

The Performance: A Ritual of Mourning and Transformation

During the performance, Pevere embodies a hybrid being emerging from burnt earth. Semi-nude, her limbs are replaced by charred tree bark and striking red tentacles, evoking a creature of the soil. Accompanied by musician Ivan Penov, who performs a composition for prepared cello and field recordings, Pevere moves through the space, interacting with soil, ashes, and suspended sculptures. The performance becomes a meditation on solastalgia—the distress caused by environmental changes—offering grief an artistic, emotional, and political dimension.