LakeART

Art and nature amongst the lakes of Valsugana

Exploring the Valsugana cycle path becomes an even more special experience thanks to the LakeART project, organised by Boccanera Gallery in collaboration with the Gruppo Operatori Economici Laghi della Valsugana (GOE) and with the support of Cassa Rurale Alta Valsugana and of APT Valsugana Lagorai.

The initiative brings together the natural beauty of Valsugana with contemporary art, inviting visitors to experience the lakes of Caldonazzo and Levico through an experiential route along the cycle and footpath.

The first artist invited is Ivano Troisi, the creator of the drawings from which the installations take shape; these are curated by Giorgia Lucchi Boccanera and produced by Boccanera Gallery with the support of local businesses. The project is being developed in collaboration with local artisans and professionals specialising in metal and stonework, using materials sourced locally or recycled. In harmony with the landscape, the works evoke relationships between earth, water and sky and address four fundamental themes: the union between the municipalities, nature, movement and the connection with the local area.

The route invites visitors to discover the installations whilst reflecting on the value of the landscape. Guided tours and QR codes allow visitors to explore the artistic and naturalistic aspects in greater depth, transforming the experience into a sensory, educational and sustainable journey.

A journey through art and nature in Trentino

LakeART is the first project by BIKENERA – Art in Motion, an initiative that takes contemporary art beyond the confines of museums, bringing it closer to everyone. Cycling or walking along the Valsugana cycle path thus becomes an opportunity to:

• experience a cultural and nature-based itinerary,
• discover the charm of Trentino’s alpine lakes,
• combine the pleasure of outdoor activity with the magic of contemporary art.

Find out more about the project

The artworks

 

Vista San Cristoforo

Location: N 46°02.178' E 011°13.840'

Painted iron, wooden seats, site-specific dimensions (work in progress)
A line traces the outline of a mountain; a tangible, materialised horizon brings us closer to the peaks.
The work, crafted from iron and conceived as a site-specific installation, encapsulates the profile of the plateau behind it, the Vezzena, transforming it into a sculptural element suspended between earth and sky. The line, in its simplicity, serves as a guiding sign: a threshold that directs the gaze and leads us to discover the forms of the landscape. It is not merely a representation, but an act of connection: between nature and the man-made. Like an abstract symbol brought into space, the profile emphasises the continuity between the work and its context, between the aesthetic and geographical dimensions. It is an invitation to observe the horizons, to rediscover the living frames of this marvellous landscape.

Nel vento (canneto) / In the wind (reed bed)

Location: N 46°01’20.8″ E 11°13’50.2”


Porphyry, stainless steel, copper, environmental dimensions
Drawing inspiration from a study of the lake biotope in Valsugana, the artist decided to focus on the Phragmites australis (common reed); the result is *Canneto (nel vento)*, a sculptural installation composed of elements made from materials sourced locally. The porphyry bases support steel stems topped with copper tips, which evoke the distinctive upper part of the reeds. The reed bed, an element often hidden and camouflaged, is here revealed and celebrated. Water becomes stone, a solidification of this territory’s millennia-old geological history. The rods dance in the wind, tinkling; the air carries the sound across the landscape. The lake, in the background, acts as a harmonic resonance chamber. Golden plumes playfully reflect the sunlight, interacting with the sparkling ripples on the lake’s surface. The installation thus draws the viewer into a synaesthetic experience of connection with the landscape.

Menador

Location: N 46°00.383’ E 011°17.425’


Porphyry, painted iron, site-specific dimensions (work in progress)
A line traces the outline of a mountain; a tangible, materialised horizon brings us closer to the peaks.
The work, crafted from iron and conceived as a site-specific installation, encapsulates the profile of the Menador in Levico, transforming it into a sculptural element suspended between earth and sky. The line, in its simplicity, serves as a guiding sign: a threshold that directs the gaze and leads us to discover the forms of the landscape and their evocative power. It is not merely a representation, but an act of connection between nature and the man-made. Like an abstract symbol brought into space, the profile emphasises the continuity between the work and its context, between the aesthetic and geographical dimensions. It is an invitation to observe the horizons, to rediscover the living frames of this marvellous landscape.

Paesaggio in scia / Landscape in the wake

Location: N 46°00.383′ E 011°17.425′


6 iron elements, each 210 cm in diameter (work in progress)
The work stems from the idea of evoking the hoops of wine barrels, a symbolic element of the region’s wine production. The specially crafted iron elements are arranged in sequence, with their spacing and dimensions gradually decreasing. The installation recalls the movement of bicycle wheels, a symbol of travel, of the landscape traversed and experienced. The choice of iron and the handcrafted construction of the elements bring to life
a work that combines principles of sustainability with a strong connection to the local agricultural and cultural traditions.
The work serves as a visual representation of this project: an artistic initiative aimed at enhancing the landscape and supporting the completion of the cycle and footpath network around the lakes of Caldonazzo and Levico. The bicycle is no longer merely the means of travelling along the cycle path and observing the artistic installations along the route, but becomes the subject of the artwork itself: a symbol of travel, of a relationship with the landscape, and of a time to be lived and shared.

Where to find the artworks

The art installations are located at three picturesque spots along the Valsugana cycle path, on the stretch connecting the lakes of Levico Terme and Caldonazzo. Each artwork is inspired by the local landscape and uses materials gathered on site – wood, stone and metal – which the artist has transformed into poetic symbols that express the relationship between earth, water and sky. Thanks to informative QR codes, visitors can not only explore the meaning of the artworks in greater depth, but also discover interesting facts about the area’s landscape, history and nature.