Art & culture in Gufidaun

Every two years in summer, Gufidaun invites South Tyrolean artists to transform its cozy village into a large open-air gallery. During this time, visitors can witness remarkable art, engage in stimulating conversations, enjoy music, and savor local delicacies.

Gufidaun, one of the most beautiful villages in South Tyrol, lies sun-kissed and usually somewhat sleepy among seven hills. But today, the village is buzzing with life. Many people are strolling through the tranquil town, embarking on the "Art & culture in Gufidaun," eager to see art and converse with the artists.

The village backdrop presents the art in a way no gallery could do better. The artists, primarily from South Tyrol, have personally chosen the settings for their works. For instance, Christian Holzknecht successfully displays his blue pastel portraits against a sea of pink pastel blossoms in the inner courtyard of Summersberg Castle; a life-sized stainless steel puma by Friedrich Moosmair prowls through the meadows below the church, while above, on the exterior walls of the house of praywer, Elisabeth Frei's expressive paintings pose the provocative question: "So tell me, how do you stand with God?" The expressive oil paintings of South Tyrolean landscapes by Ernst Müller hang impressively on the weathered larch wood of the Thunisch barn, and the Koburg Garden transforms into a colorful, joyful homage to nature with works by Karolina Gacke, Ivo Piazza, Fabian Dalpiaz, and Clara Fiegel. "I am deeply impressed by the variety and high quality of the exhibited works," says one visitor.

Amidst it all, Brigitte Messner moves energetically from stand to stand, a vivacious lady in a colorful dress, and the initiator of this cultural event. Even though the significant era of the artist colony of Klausen effectively ended with the close of World War I, many painters still frequented the romantic spots of Gufidaun during her childhood, drawing views of Summersberg Castle, over to Klausen and Säben Monastery. Years later, this former city councilor and art lover had the idea to bring art and artists back to Gufidaun. It began in 2014 with five mini-exhibitions; ten years later, there are 30, displayed in the gardens, courtyards, parks, and alleys of the village. With her winning manner, she has succeeded in opening many otherwise private places for art and its viewers on this day. An elderly man from Velturno enthusiastically shares that he has never looked behind the walls of Summersberg Castle before. The many old trees in the village provide shade, a gentle breeze blows, and visitors are pleased they chose art over the swimming pool.

The church choir and local inns lovingly take care of the guests' refreshments. At midday and in the evening, the square in front of the village museum and near the "Turmwirt" resembles a swarm of bees. You can hear various South Tyrolean dialects, Ladin, Italian, French, and English being spoken. People easily strike up conversations, and artists mingle among the visitors. It is these encounters and exchanges with friends and strangers, discussions about the art seen and life's matters, that make this day so valuable. Armin Grunt has already anticipated this scene in the garden of Summersberg Castle with his larger-than-life white figures, which stand in continuous exchange with one another in ever-new, modular configurations.