Sharing Stories

When grandparents tell their grandchildren bedtime stories, a moment of shared presence and attentive listening is created. Sharing Stories aims to explore storytelling, drawing and publishing as artistic tools to promote exchange – both between generations and across borders. 

In this first edition of the artasfoundation project series Sharing Stories, we have collaborated with the Dogo Residency and the Monterana School in Degersheim and Lichtensteig. The project will continue in September 2025 in cooperation with the local school in Arasadzikh/i and with SKLAD, an art space in Sukhum/i. In both regions, Toggenburg and Abkhazia¹, local stories are shared in a collaboration between local families, especially children, and the participating group of artists. Using various methods such as writing, drawing and audio recordings, the local school children create oral and visual documentation. The results of this first part with the children of the Monterana School were on display at the Rathaus für Kultur in Lichtensteig (Vernissage: Saturday, 26. October 2024) and the several meter long collective painting was presented on 26. November, 2024, as part of the Artas Community Event at the Kulturbüro Zürich, where it is on display before it will continue travelling to Abkhazia. Toggenheim and Lichtensteig have welcomed and hosted us with lots of warmth and care.