The Italian design collective, founded by designers Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, has collaborated with the creative hub C-mine on the launch of Down Under, spotlighting themes such as ecology and Belgium’s post-industrial sites
Photography courtesy of Formafantasma featuring Down Under
Down Under: The Curious Fall of a Child Who Knew Nothing and Became Everything, a new illustrated book by Formafantasma founders Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, presents a close investigation of the relationship between humans and the environment.
Born out of a commission and residency programme by C-mine, the 208-page English language publication, aimed at both young readers and adults, explores the nature and purpose of Belgium’s postindustrial sites through a series of photographs, illustrations and interviews.
It features the Genk coal mines, which were deactivated in the 1980s but now transformed into a vibrant art campus, as well as photography and petrography – a branch of science concerned with the composition and properties of rocks – by retired geologist Roland Dreesen, who beautifully captured thin sections of rock samples.
Photography courtesy of Roland Dreesen featuring Petrography, Down Under, Formafantasma
Realised with the support of the Flemish Government, Down Under‘s minimalist graphic design comes courtesy of Swiss design studio Omnigroup, while Rome-based, international publishing house NERO was enlisted to publish the book.
Structured in two parts, the book begins with a tale, illustrated by French visual artist Clément Vuillier, about a child who, upon falling into a hole in an open field, embarks on a journey through the hidden layers of the Earth, encountering unexpected lifeforms that shift his worldview.
The second part of Down Under features contributions from various scientists and educators who inspired the story, offering insights that challenge anthropocentric thinking. There is, for instance, a critical essay by historian of photography and cinema Teresa Castro whose writing explores vegetal forms in visual culture and the environmental histories of film and photography.
Photography by Gregorio Gonella featuring Formafantasma founders Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin
Other highlights include discussions with Formafantasma and biology professor Natalie Beenaerts on the connections between biodiversity, human disturbances, ecosystem services and climate change; and interviews with visiting professor of geology Roland Dreesen.
The book also features conversations with Dirk Maes, senior researcher at the Research Institute for Nature and Forest, an independent organisation that is part of the Flemish government; microbiologist François Rineau who specialises in how microorganisms influence ecosystems; and contributions by Louise Osieka and Formafantasma.
Building on the educational legacies of designers like Enzo Mari and Bruno Munari, Down Under invites readers to rethink how we interact with the world around us. As the planet and humanity continue to face complex challenges, the book calls for a deeper understanding of transformation, encouraging readers to embrace interdependence.
Photography courtesy of Formafantasma featuring Down Under
Just as Mari and Munari saw design as a tool for social change, Formafantasma’s new book Down Under invites readers to reconsider their roles in shaping a future where humans and the environment coexist in harmony.
Down Under: The Curious Fall of a Child Who Knew Nothing and Became Everything by Formafantasma is out now. For more information, visit neroeditions.com or formafantasma.com
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