Starting from the "relationship between man and the environment" and walking along the traces of history scattered along the Via delle Genti, the artists involved in the project developed research work within their own fields. After a period of study in close contact with the natural and social tapestry of the location, the residencies led to a creative design process which resulted in four separate artworks.

The varied art forms identified for the portions of the Via delle Genti territory aim to ensure a harmonious dialogue with the landscapes and cultural traditions of the areas.

Fabio Petani is an artist from Piedmont, who is internationally renowned thanks to his numerous works in urban regeneration across many European countries and the USA.
His artistic research, which moves between chemistry and nature, is characterised by the creation of murals, which are rich in floral and geometric elements. They always instate a solid relationship between the work itself and the area and therefore lend themselves well to the reinterpretation of local identity. 

SYNOPSIS OF THE ARTWORK
In the framework of the project "Grand Tour on the Via delle Genti," Fabio Petani's artistic residency intervened on a road retaining wall, transforming it into a natural embrace to the municipality of Oggebbio. In fact, the mural celebrates the richness of the area not only through the representation of the beautiful flowers that adorn public and private gardens, but also by emphasising the importance of the landscape and culture of the Piedmontese shore of Upper Lake Maggiore. The work stands as a tribute to the beauty of Oggebbio and its surroundings, integrating art, history and nature into a harmonious symphony for all future passers-by.
Oggebbio’s hilly and mountainous backdrop is rendered even more enchanting by the presence of several elegant villas, each one with its own history and charm. It is said that one villa in particular among these inspired Giuseppe Verdi to compose Aida. In homage to the bond between art and landscape, one of the botanical plants represented in the opera is the Phlox Paniculata ‘Aida’, a bright pink-purple flower which shines among the beautiful white tones of the Gardena Jasminoides ‘Radicas’, a typical flower of these lake regions.
These two elements, with their contrasting colours, weave together with the rest of the vegetation and frame the central focal point of the composition: water, symbolised by a vortex of droplets which give life and nourish not only the flowers, but the entire ecosystem represented. Water, an essential and precious element, represents Lake Maggiore and is the primary resource for the community and tourists, but at the same time sustains the biodiversity of the area.

Petani's artistic residency took place in the second half of September, but the public unveiling of the work took place on the first weekend of November 2024, when his street art masterclass, open to junior artists, designers and practitioners, was scheduled. Through this masterclass, the artist shared knowledge and techniques used during his residency and in his profession.

Walter Paradiso is a Roman-born artist who has been active in Turin for many years and is already an expert in video documentation in Italy's inland areas. He teaches "Audiovisual Disciplines and Multimedia Communication Technology Workshops" at secondary schools. He has taught at La Sapienza University on subjects concerning sound in the performing arts. His studies include a Bachelor's degree in Humanities, a Master's degree in Sound Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Digital Technologies.
His single-channel video art works have been presented at several international festivals. In the performing arts sector, his participation in "Digital Life - Roma Europa Festival" (2014) and several editions of the "Teatri di Vetro" festival are worth noting. His photographic projects have also been exhibited as solo shows in art galleries.
During his residency, Walter Paradiso interwove narrative mode with informational signage to create video narratives in collaboration with the authorities, associations and citizens, who acted as protagonists of a journey between present and past, which will serve as an inspiration for future visitors.

SYNOPSIS OF THE ARTWORK
The Municipality of Trarego Viggiona chose to implement an extensive art project involving the towns of Trarego, Cheglio and Viggiona, focussing on the audiovisual storytelling of the area. This video storytelling residency has allowed the community to give voice to important elements of local history, customs and traditions, all the while it will offer tourists the opportunity to explore the most characteristic streets and natural corners of this small town in a new way, enriching the experience with the knowledge of anecdotes and unusual information about the local heritage.
Indeed, the historical-artistic route is structured through the placement of graphic and descriptive panels with QR codes inside the bus shelters of Cheglio and Viggiona, to liven up the wait for public transport which connects the three towns with the lakefront.
There is also a narrative corridor with screens and integrated audio inside the Trarego Town Hall, where any passer-by can experience this storytelling in the heart of the town, a small preview of what they will find as they explore its villages along the mapped trails.