In the frame of the Humus artist-in-residency program the French-Austrian artist duo Célia Picard and Hannes Schreckensberger explored the broad topic of transhumance and pastoralism. They tried to approach the cosmology of the shepherd and question the current working conditions of shepherds in the two regions of the Serra da Estrella in Portugal and the Southern French Alps around the town of Digne-les-Bains. Célia Picard and Hannes Schreckensberger discovered the remote pasture areas in the high mountains as zones of various conflicts (living conditions of shepherds, problems with water sources for the animals, effects of climate change on the vegetation, global economic relationships, the increase of number of wolf attacks, . . .) which inspired them to realize the work Cet été je prends la montagne. The artists duo took up the popular shepherd technique of engraving personal texts, symbols or importent dates on hidden stone blocks in the pasture areas, wooden beams or door frames of there huts. Célia Picard and Hannes Schreckensberger interpreted this tradition into a soft and portable textile work by using sheep wool from the Serra da Estrela. Cet été je prends la montagne chant out conflict situations and radiate a kind of shepherd huchement*.

* Shepard´s cry technic intended to communicate with animals

Cet été je prends la montagne, 2025, felted wool, 186 x 119 x 0.5 cm