A artist-research project in the Italian Volcanic Region (2025–27)
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Geomorphologies brings together sound art and community collaboration to explore human resilience within volcanic landscapes. Drawing on immersive soundscapes composed from field recordings captured across Stromboli, Vulcano, Salina, Vesuvius, and Campi Flegrei, the project traces how people live with and adapt to the shifting forces of nature. Foregrounding local voices and integrating scientific insight, Geomorphologies deepens our understanding of the fragile balance between human life and volatile environments. This transnational collaboration is led by Australian sound artist Philip Samartzis and Italian curator Leandro Pisano, with support from the Hibou Foundation and RMIT University.
Fieldwork in the Italian Volcanic Region (2025–27)
People
Philip Samartzis is a sound artist and researcher known for his work in field recording and soundscape composition. His practice often centres on remote and extreme environments, capturing their unique auditory characteristics and documenting the impacts of climate change. As a Professor at RMIT University in Melbourne, Samartzis brings together artistic experimentation and academic inquiry, focusing on the intersection of sound, environment, and technology. His installations and performances have been presented internationally, offering audiences immersive experiences that reveal the sensory and emotional dimensions of sound. His collaborations with scientists and communities contribute to broader understandings of environmental change, positioning sound as a powerful medium for interpretation and engagement.
Leandro Pisano, PhD, is a curator and researcher working at the intersection of sound, ecology, and rural geographies. His practice centres on the relationship between technology, landscape, and environmental transformation, with a particular focus on rural and remote territories. He is the founder and artistic director of platforms such as Interferenze and Liminaria, and has developed international projects exploring how sound can function as a critical medium for engaging with ecological and social change. Pisano’s work brings together artistic experimentation and research, fostering dialogue between artists, scholars, and local communities. Through exhibitions, residencies, and public programmes, he investigates how sound practices can contribute to renewed understandings of place, resilience, and environmental futures.
Project partners
Support partners
Interzona (Irpinia/Sannio, Southern Italy)is a cultural organisation focused on sound, territory, and contemporary art in rural contexts. Promoter of Interferenze and Liminaria, Interzona supports site-specific projects, residencies, and critical research addressing ecological and postcolonial themes through experimental and collaborative practices.
The Hibou Foundation is a philanthropic organisation supporting interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of art, science, and social impact. It funds creative initiatives that explore environmental change,
cultural diversity, and community resilience.
Regional partners
Collettivo Zero (Campi Flegrei) is an interdisciplinary collective creating site-specific artworks, performances, and public programs that reflect on resilience, transformation, and the precarious relationship between humans and volcanic landscapes. Their work blends visual art with environmental reflection, grounded in the historical layers of the Campi Flegrei.
Marosi Festival (Stromboli, Aeolian Islands) is a contemporary art festival that merges performance, visual art, and sound within Stromboli’s volcanic terrain. The festival creates immersive, site-specific experiences that explore nature, energy, and transformation, inviting international artists to respond to the island’s dramatic environment.
Amaneï Salina, Aeolian Islands) is a collaborative art group fostering Salina’s cultural and environmental heritage through installations, exhibitions, and sustainable practices rooted in Mediterranean life. Amaneï plays a key role in positioning the Aeolian Islands as vibrant sites of creative and ecological exploration.
Tramandars (Mount Vesuvius) is a cultural collective devoted to sharing and preserving art through contemporary, socially driven practices. Engaging with both local and international artists, Tramandars fosters community, education, and cross- cultural exchange with a focus on building connections that extend across time and place.