Paper Camp - Monte Isola, Italy
Labor • Plants • Cellulose • Self-Topography on Paper
26 May - 04 June 2026
Paper Camp is the core in-depth research and learning format of Paper Lab Berlin.
It is designed for artists, designers, educators, and researchers who want to work with paper not as a single technique, but as a full material discipline — spanning structure, surface, memory, and self-topography.
In 2026, Paper Lab Berlin continues its international program across Europe and the Mediterranean.
Each Paper Camp is shaped by its specific landscape, ecology, and working conditions.
The Monte Isola edition is dedicated especially to plants, fibers, and cellulose, unfolding within a uniquely quiet, car-free island environment.
Location — Monte Isola, Lake Iseo
Monte Isola rises from the center of Lake Iseo in Northern Italy — the largest lake island in Europe, surrounded entirely by water and accessible only by boat. Public ferries and bus-boats connect the island to the mainland approximately every 45 minutes.
There are no private cars on Monte Isola.
Movement happens on foot, by small shuttle buses, or through transportation offered by the local community. This creates a rare acoustic and psychological environment — free from traffic noise, rushed movement, and urban distraction.
The Paper Camp will take place near the upper part of the island, hosted by Irene at a working farmhouse set into the slopes above the villages. From this elevated position, the view opens across the lake and surrounding mountains, creating a layered horizon that becomes part of the daily working field.
The farmhouse offers three on-site rooms (single and shared), allowing a small group of participants to live and work at the heart of the camp.
At the same time, Monte Isola offers many family-run guesthouses, apartments, and small hotels nearby. A full accommodation guide will be provided in a dedicated chapter so participants can choose what suits their rhythm and privacy.
This edition of Paper Camp is designed for those who feel drawn to quiet, isolation, and sustained attention — an environment rooted in nature, slowness, and long-form labor.
Paper Camp Monte Isola
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Paper Camp is a labor-oriented research program.
It is not a single workshop, but a structured field of material investigation in which paper is explored as: material, structure, surface, skin, memory and topographic field.Participants work across:
papermaking, casting, forming, mold making, plant-based processes, installation, and self-topography on paper.Paper Camp is where labor, curiosity, and experiment meet — allowing participants to develop both deep material understanding and their own artistic language.
Two Program Formats
One-Week Paper Camp
Tuesday , 26.05.2026 - Monday 01.06.2026
A full labor camp.
Mornings: structured teaching, demonstrations, and guided material research
Afternoons: open studio — participants develop their own projects with support, feedback, and access to all techniques
This format offers a focused immersion into paper as a material system.
10-Day Paper Camp
Tuesday , 26.05.2026 - Thursday 04.06.2026
Includes the entire one-week curriculum plus additional days dedicated to Self-Topography on Paper.
These extra days function like a micro-residency, allowing:
extended experimentation
slower, deeper material research
reflection and conceptual development
This format is designed for artists who want sustained time to develop work beyond exercises.
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On Wednesday , 25 February 2026 at 18:00 CET, we will host an introductory online meeting led by Guy Lougashi
introduce the structure of Paper Camp Monte Isola
show videos of processes so participants know what to expect
explain logistics and the daily rhythm
open space for questions
The session is recorded.
Those who wish to join can sign up through the form.
Participants have until 10 March 2026 to finalize their registration. -
The Monte Isola edition is dedicated to plant-based paper research.
Hosted at a working farm, the camp offers both indoor studios and outdoor working areas, allowing participants to engage directly with vegetation, fibers, and organic material.
Participants will explore:
collecting plant matter
processing and breaking down fibers
extracting cellulose
cooking, pulping, and forming
understanding plants as structural and conceptual material
This focus grows from the Paper Lab Berlin research line The Wisdom of Plants and integrates fully into the broader Paper Camp framework.
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Every Paper Camp includes the full Paper Lab Berlin foundation:
The Groundwork of Paper Forms — Foundations
A comprehensive introduction to:
papermaking
pulp preparation
forming and shaping
mold creation
and casting
The Groundwork of Paper Forms — Advanced
A deeper expansion into:
complex structures
layered systems
experimental molds
multi-dimensional paper forms
These two modules provide a complete material base for personal artistic development.
Additional Masterclasses
Depending on the camp structure, participants may work with a wide range of specialized masterclasses, including:
Papier-Mâché
Paper Making from Fabrics
The Wisdom of Plants
Wax & Paper
Clay & Paper
Silicone Mold Making & Paper Casting
Tape Art
Salt & Paper
Each masterclass brings its own technical and conceptual field into the larger research environment.
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Paper Camp is open to anyone who is motivated, curious, and ready to work.
No prior experience is required.
We teach from the foundations upward, while experienced practitioners can work at a highly advanced level. There are no formal requirements, but all applicants go through a short interview. Places are limited.Participants are always welcome to contact us personally to discuss which format fits their goals.
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Participants of the Paper Camp (not the single workshops) take part in four long online sessions leading up to the camp.
These sessions are designed to:build technical readiness
establish the conceptual direction
introduce basic exercises
prepare participants mentally and practically
create a sense of group connection before arriving on site
By the time the camp begins in Istria, participants already carry momentum, clarity, and an active engagement with the material.
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Accommodation — Monte Isola Paper Camp
Accommodation and Paper Camp fees are separate.
The Paper Camp fee covers all teaching, studio access, materials, and the full Paper Lab Berlin program.
Accommodation is arranged and paid separately, either at La Casa di Irene or with other local hosts on Monte Isola.La Casa di Irene — On-Site Option
A small number of participants can stay directly at the camp’s physical center, La Casa di Irene, located in the upper part of Monte Isola.
The farmhouse offers three rooms:
one double room
one twin room (two single beds)
one sofa bed for two people
There is a shared bathroom and kitchen.
Staying on site means living inside the daily rhythm of the Paper Camp — close to the studio, the group, and the informal exchange that happens between sessions.
You can view the house here:
Airbnb – La Casa di Irene
https://www.airbnb.it/hosting/listings/editor/48020275/view-your-spaceLocation (Google Maps):
https://maps.app.goo.gl/G4fkJM2Tzp8UHtdC8 -
Monte Isola is a living island community with many small guesthouses, apartments, and family-run accommodations.
Participants who prefer more privacy or a different comfort level will find many options within walking distance or a short bus ride away.
A full accommodation guide with recommended places will be provided later.Arrival — Monte Isola
Monte Isola is car-free and can only be reached by boat.
Participants arrive via the mainland town Sale Marasino, which is easily reached by train from Brescia or Bergamo. From Sale Marasino, a short 5-minute ferry ride brings you to the island.
Once on Monte Isola, you can reach the accommodation by:
local bus
walking
or authorized local taxis (small vans)
More information about getting to the island and moving around it:
https://www.visitmonteisola.it/en/getting-there/A full arrival and transport guide will be shared with all confirmed participants.
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Paper Camp Monte Isola — 7 days (program only):€840
This fee doesmonte Isola not include the day of arrival or the day of departure.Paper Camp Monte Isola — 10 days (program only): €1080
Introductory session
Self-Topography on Paper
Before the in-person Paper Camp begins, all interested participants are invited to an online introductory session.
This live Zoom meeting offers a clear overview of the Monte Isola Paper Camp 2026 — its structure, focus, rhythm, and working conditions.
During the session, we will walk through the full program framework, explain the two camp formats, and outline how labor, plant-based research, and self-topography on paper unfold throughout the days on Monte Isola. Time will be reserved for questions, discussion, and practical clarification, allowing participants to understand whether this camp aligns with their interests, availability, and working goals.
Date: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Time: 18:00–20:00 CET (Berlin time zone)
Format: Live Zoom session
Participation in the introductory session is recommended before registration.
How Paper Camp Works
Paper Camp unfolds as a long-form process:
1 — Program Release
Each location publishes its unique program.
2 — Introductory Session (Online) -
Wednesday 25.02.2026 18.00 - 20.00 CET (Berlin time zone)
A live Zoom presentation of the program, including questions and discussion.
3 — Registration Window
Participants have two weeks to register after the introduction.
4 — Getting Ready Sessions
Preparation meetings for confirmed participants.
(4 online sessions)
5 — The Program (In Person)
Hands-on, intensive, structured studio work.
6 — Integration Session (Online)
One month later — reflection, questions, and continuation.
7 — Ongoing Support — Paper Talk Pro
All past participants are welcome to continue in an ongoing professional exchange space.
