Love poems on display: Chi viene e chi va – Poetry, Illustration, Essence
I was finally able to share with you a project I care deeply about: my exhibition Chi viene e chi va – Poetry, Illustration, Essence. A journey between word and image, between verse and sign, which came to life in the exhibition space of the Teatro del Lido di Ostia.
The exhibition also featured the eponymous book of love poems, which I've already mentioned on several occasions. Now, however, we can experience it in a new light, in an immersive experience that goes beyond the printed page.
Love Poems: A Synopsis of Chi viene e chi va
If you're not familiar with my collection, let me briefly tell you what it's about. Chi viene e chi va reflects the incessant movement of affection in our lives. Love, friendships, deep bonds: everything is destined to change, yet what remains, within us and around us, carries enormous weight. The book explores themes of loss, trauma, identity, and healing, recounting an intimate journey that passes through pain and then blossoms into self-rediscovery.
This exhibition was the natural continuation of that journey: a material transposition of the book, where the written word becomes sign, space, experience.
What will you find in the exhibition?
The poems emerge from the paper to transform into installations, unpublished illustrations and etchings. The texts break down into fragments of images and verses, the pages become surfaces to explore, the prints engage with the void and the light.
Making everything even more special is the first public screening of sōmnium, the animated short film that introduces Chi viene e chi va 2.0 – AR x Poetry, the Augmented Reality version of the book. An experimental project that takes poetry to a new level, combining verse, illustration, and 2.5D animation.
The inauguration: a journey through poetry, illustration, and experimentation
On Friday, February 7th, we opened the exhibition, and the emotion was indescribable. Seeing my poems take shape in the space, watching people immerse themselves in the texts, images, and animations... it was a unique moment.
This exhibition tells the story of the unstoppable flow of those who enter and exit our lives, transforming the pain and beauty of these passages into art.
First up: the engraving triptych
The first impact with the exhibition was given by a triptych of linocuts, a tribute to the great masters and at the same time a visual synthesis of the book.
Three prints, three scenes that speak of solitude, completeness, and idolatry. This triptych was my first printmaking experiment, and finding it today at the entrance to the exhibition is a small circle coming full circle for me.
Love poems as photographs: "Essence"
Continuing on, on the right, was Essenza: ten black and white photographs accompanied by ten poems. This project was born from the encounter between my texts and the artistic gaze of Simone Cardin and Livia Cinque, creating a dialogue between photography and poetry.
Through street photography and short color video clips, the project captures moments of love, loss, and melancholy, providing a visual reflection on universal emotions.
A dialogue between different arts
Each photograph in Essenza is a fragment of life, a snapshot that amplifies the book's words. The underlying idea is to blend different languages to convey the essence of who we are: imperfect, vulnerable, constantly changing. An invitation to recognize ourselves in common spaces and shared emotions.
Love Poems in Motion: The Animated Short Film
Continuing along the main wall of the Theatre, it was possible to watch the screening of sōmnium, the animated short film that anticipates the Augmented Reality expansion of the book.
This short film has been selected for various festivals, including the Basilicata International Film Festival and the Theta Short Film Festival. The short film is currently not available to the public, so this exhibition was a unique opportunity to see it live!
The most appreciated works
Another important section of the exhibition is dedicated to my most significant engravings. These included:
- Sventrami - guardami dentro, winner of the Livorno Artistica Award 2023;
- Acqua sporca, second place at the Castelbuono Cuore d'Artista international competition and exhibited in London for Future Stars.
Added to these is another engraving that has traveled to exhibitions and competitions, testifying to the path of growth and experimentation that I am undertaking.
Hidden details and immersive installations
In addition to the main works, the exhibition hosted some special pieces:
- Free me from my universe, already exhibited at SUNDAZE SPACE SOCIETY;
- Mi senti?, dedicated to the memory of transgender people, created to raise awareness on this important issue.
But the true heart of the exhibition is the central niche, an immersive room entirely covered with the collection's texts. Sitting there, amidst the words and images that gave life to this project, is an experience that takes you to the very heart of the book.
When and where was it possible to see the exhibition?
📍 Ostia Lido Theater, Via delle Sirene 22
📅 Until March 2, 2025
🎟 Free admission, opening times according to the box office
I hope this exhibition has moved you as much as it moved me in creating it.