Mirko Baselgia

The Tree of Valbella arises out of a special, highly topical constellation in current times. The story behind the project culminated in July 2019 after a long conceptual and production stage, resulting in the construction of the ensemble in Valbella. A spruce in the patron’s garden had to be felled in 2016, a wonderful 124-year-old tree, a precious part of creation. The spruce takes centre stage in Mirko Baselgia’s work of art.
The sculptural ensemble perpetuates the growth of the tree and its destiny; the parts that were used by the Fonderia Nolana Del Giudice in Naples as moulds for bronze casting were cut from its wood. Felling a tree is problematic in times of climate change. Did the artist and patron create a monument to it with the ensemble? No, rather, they breathed new life into the spruce.

Contents

Foreword. Art is life
Thomas Abegg

Introduction
Christoph Eggenberger

The spruce as the main figure of the sculptural ensemble
Christoph Eggenberger

Tale of a metamorphosis
Laura Giudici

Fonderia Nolana Del Giudice: A passion for complexity
Laura Giudici
Pasquale Del Giudice
Antonio Del Giudice
Marcello Del Giudice
Luca Del Giudice
Giuseppe Del Giudice

Daniel Margreth in interview with Laura Giudici
Laura Giudici

Art as Meta-nature. Regarding Mirko Baselgia
Jérôme Neutres

The Tree of Valbella: Anthropometry of a Sculptural Ensemble
Jérôme Neutres

A mausoleum which is a picture of life. Conversation with Mirko Baselgia
Jérôme Neutres

Every single tree in the vast forest
Laura Giudici

Appendix