Art and Shamanism: The Mask and the Shamanic Costume. Artistic Residency.
Type
Residency
Category
Drawing, Installation, Painting
Status
Archived
Deadline
May 30, 2026
Application Fee
Free
Host
LORENZO BORDONARO
Location
Turin, Italy
Art and Shamanism: The Mask and the Shamanic Costume
Artistic Residency with Morena Luciani Russo and Lorenzo Bordonaro
July 31 – August 8, 2026
The “Art and Shamanism” artistic residencies are dedicated to anyone who has an artistic practice of any kind—even non-professional—(from dance to painting, photography, sculpture, etc.) and wishes to take time for a retreat devoted to their art while exploring it within a shamanic path.
The shamanic experience is a particular state of consciousness and attention that allows communication with different levels of reality.
Music, singing, dance, and the visual arts originated within contexts of shamanic practices and rituals. There is therefore an ancestral relationship between the artistic process and shamanism, whose contemporary relevance we will explore both theoretically and practically during the residency.
In particular, the second edition of this residency aims to deepen the complexity and vitality of the device of the mask and costume—recurring and central aspects in the shamanic traditions of all cultures, including European ones.
The use of the mask and disguise deeply questions the ultimate nature of the subject and holds a profoundly sacred and symbolic role in shamanism. The mask serves as a tool of transformation and mediation between different worlds: it allows the shaman to temporarily abandon their human identity, to “become other,” and to travel between different levels of reality.
The mask is not a theatrical fiction; it is a living and transformative presence. In many shamanic traditions, masks represent animals, bringing to the wearer the characteristics, powers, and abilities of these spiritual beings. The costume tends to provide the shaman with a new body—a magical body in animal form.
The theme of “becoming other” through the mask is one of the deepest cores of shamanism, because it touches on identity, the sacred, and the real transformation of being. The mask reveals what is not visible: it allows a power to manifest that does not belong to the individual, but to the cosmos.
During the residency, participants will be guided in the creation of their own shamanic mask and costume. We will explore natural places where participants will seek their own shamanic guide, who will inspire each person’s creative work. Animal spirits, rocks, plants, spirits of water or wind, strange beings that go beyond our human imagination: in the shamanic path, everything can become a guide toward new knowledge.
Part of the program will be experiential, led by Morena Luciani Russo, artist and teacher of shamanism, and part will consist of the analysis of several shamanic cultures and their use of masks and costumes, led by Lorenzo Bordonaro, artist and anthropologist. Part of the study will be dedicated to European masked traditions and the prehistoric origins of these rites, still alive today in the Alpine region and the Mediterranean.
Throughout the residency, participants will be supported in their creative process and invited to share their experiences and reflections within the group.
The week will alternate between days of study and creation on site and days dedicated to shamanic practice in different natural locations. The Susa Valley is crossed by one of the planet’s most important energy lines (the so-called Ley Lines), one of whose powerful points is Monte Pirchiriano, home to the famous Sacra di San Michele. Throughout the valley there are archaeological sites and peaks of great power suitable for deep spiritual practices.
Each participant will follow their own creative flow and will be supported whenever necessary in the practical realization of the mask and costume. Evenings will be moments for sharing, and one evening will be dedicated to a shamanic fire ceremony. At the end of the residency, a collective performance will be organized in which participants will bring their creations to life in a ceremonial context.
Practical Details
Where We Will Stay
We will stay at the Cascina Bucolica Bed & Breakfast, located in Alpignano, at the entrance to the Susa Valley. It is an old traditional Piedmontese farmhouse, recently renovated. It offers all comforts and a swimming pool and, thanks to its strategic location, is ideal for reaching important places in the valley.
What the Residency Includes
• All planned activities
• Accommodation (see options) and all meals (3 per day)
• Workspace
What It Does Not Include
• Materials used in the workshop: these will mainly be natural materials collected during the residency itself. A list of small useful tools will be provided in due time and should be brought by participants.
• Transport to and from the residency location
• Travel expenses during the residency: we will move by car, sharing travel costs.
Costs
The cost of the residency is €560, excluding accommodation and meals, plus a €20 membership fee.
Costs for room and board are available through the secretariat by writing to: artesciamanesimo@gmail.com
Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) will be vegetarian and prepared daily.
How to Participate
The number of participants is limited to 15.
To participate, send a short letter of motivation to:
artesciamanesimo@gmail.com
Once registration is confirmed, it will be necessary to pay:
• €200 deposit for the residency
• €100 deposit for accommodation
For cancellations before June 30, the fee will be refunded. After June 30, no refund is provided.
A preliminary online meeting lasting about one and a half hours will be organized before the residency begins. Participation in this meeting is required for the proposed activities.
Application Deadline: April 30, 2026
The “Shamanism and Art” Residencies
Organized annually, the “Art and Shamanism” residencies focus on:
• Exploring the relationship between the spiritual dimension accessed through shamanism and the artist’s creative process
• Exploring the meaning and role of art in conveying, transmitting, and expressing the shamanic worldview
• Investigating the creative/artistic process as a shamanic act in itself
• Reconsidering and questioning the separation between human beings and Nature.
Artistic Residency with Morena Luciani Russo and Lorenzo Bordonaro
July 31 – August 8, 2026
The “Art and Shamanism” artistic residencies are dedicated to anyone who has an artistic practice of any kind—even non-professional—(from dance to painting, photography, sculpture, etc.) and wishes to take time for a retreat devoted to their art while exploring it within a shamanic path.
The shamanic experience is a particular state of consciousness and attention that allows communication with different levels of reality.
Music, singing, dance, and the visual arts originated within contexts of shamanic practices and rituals. There is therefore an ancestral relationship between the artistic process and shamanism, whose contemporary relevance we will explore both theoretically and practically during the residency.
In particular, the second edition of this residency aims to deepen the complexity and vitality of the device of the mask and costume—recurring and central aspects in the shamanic traditions of all cultures, including European ones.
The use of the mask and disguise deeply questions the ultimate nature of the subject and holds a profoundly sacred and symbolic role in shamanism. The mask serves as a tool of transformation and mediation between different worlds: it allows the shaman to temporarily abandon their human identity, to “become other,” and to travel between different levels of reality.
The mask is not a theatrical fiction; it is a living and transformative presence. In many shamanic traditions, masks represent animals, bringing to the wearer the characteristics, powers, and abilities of these spiritual beings. The costume tends to provide the shaman with a new body—a magical body in animal form.
The theme of “becoming other” through the mask is one of the deepest cores of shamanism, because it touches on identity, the sacred, and the real transformation of being. The mask reveals what is not visible: it allows a power to manifest that does not belong to the individual, but to the cosmos.
During the residency, participants will be guided in the creation of their own shamanic mask and costume. We will explore natural places where participants will seek their own shamanic guide, who will inspire each person’s creative work. Animal spirits, rocks, plants, spirits of water or wind, strange beings that go beyond our human imagination: in the shamanic path, everything can become a guide toward new knowledge.
Part of the program will be experiential, led by Morena Luciani Russo, artist and teacher of shamanism, and part will consist of the analysis of several shamanic cultures and their use of masks and costumes, led by Lorenzo Bordonaro, artist and anthropologist. Part of the study will be dedicated to European masked traditions and the prehistoric origins of these rites, still alive today in the Alpine region and the Mediterranean.
Throughout the residency, participants will be supported in their creative process and invited to share their experiences and reflections within the group.
The week will alternate between days of study and creation on site and days dedicated to shamanic practice in different natural locations. The Susa Valley is crossed by one of the planet’s most important energy lines (the so-called Ley Lines), one of whose powerful points is Monte Pirchiriano, home to the famous Sacra di San Michele. Throughout the valley there are archaeological sites and peaks of great power suitable for deep spiritual practices.
Each participant will follow their own creative flow and will be supported whenever necessary in the practical realization of the mask and costume. Evenings will be moments for sharing, and one evening will be dedicated to a shamanic fire ceremony. At the end of the residency, a collective performance will be organized in which participants will bring their creations to life in a ceremonial context.
Practical Details
Where We Will Stay
We will stay at the Cascina Bucolica Bed & Breakfast, located in Alpignano, at the entrance to the Susa Valley. It is an old traditional Piedmontese farmhouse, recently renovated. It offers all comforts and a swimming pool and, thanks to its strategic location, is ideal for reaching important places in the valley.
What the Residency Includes
• All planned activities
• Accommodation (see options) and all meals (3 per day)
• Workspace
What It Does Not Include
• Materials used in the workshop: these will mainly be natural materials collected during the residency itself. A list of small useful tools will be provided in due time and should be brought by participants.
• Transport to and from the residency location
• Travel expenses during the residency: we will move by car, sharing travel costs.
Costs
The cost of the residency is €560, excluding accommodation and meals, plus a €20 membership fee.
Costs for room and board are available through the secretariat by writing to: artesciamanesimo@gmail.com
Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) will be vegetarian and prepared daily.
How to Participate
The number of participants is limited to 15.
To participate, send a short letter of motivation to:
artesciamanesimo@gmail.com
Once registration is confirmed, it will be necessary to pay:
• €200 deposit for the residency
• €100 deposit for accommodation
For cancellations before June 30, the fee will be refunded. After June 30, no refund is provided.
A preliminary online meeting lasting about one and a half hours will be organized before the residency begins. Participation in this meeting is required for the proposed activities.
Application Deadline: April 30, 2026
The “Shamanism and Art” Residencies
Organized annually, the “Art and Shamanism” residencies focus on:
• Exploring the relationship between the spiritual dimension accessed through shamanism and the artist’s creative process
• Exploring the meaning and role of art in conveying, transmitting, and expressing the shamanic worldview
• Investigating the creative/artistic process as a shamanic act in itself
• Reconsidering and questioning the separation between human beings and Nature.