by Emanuela Cossetti
For some years now, in Fontecchio, there have been some rather special residents. They come from neighboring and far-off places and are mainly involved in art. They didn’t all arrive together, but rather like notes that harmonize on the same frequency. As if at a certain point someone had struck an 'A' that triggered an avalanche of responses that gradually turned into harmony. In fact, this vibration originated from the village itself, a place fueled by a desire for culture. Fontecchio breathes and feeds on interest, nature, art, cinema, literature, and any intriguing proposal brought forward; these ideas are supported by an administration that is conscious and aware, supporting initiatives that enhance the village, making it an open and interesting place in every possible way. Another way to tell this story might have its roots in the DNA; maybe every person from Fontecchio carries a bit of Fonticulano, who knew how to think about the city of L’Aquila in its forms, structures, but also in its entirety. Like many scholars of the 1500s, he possessed the genius of an architect, an urban planner, who is, at the same time, an anthropologist capable of observing a place and understanding its reasons and its deep meaning. Through this willingness and openness, an environment has been created that is open to the 'Other-than-self', which accepts and welcomes new community possibilities and develops new visions of tomorrow. In fact, through the 'integration' of some young artists into the village, now turned residents, a process of transformation has begun. The people of Fontecchio have understood something very important that not all communities grasp... Teetering on the brink of depopulation of small villages, perhaps without even being fully aware, they realized that survival is only for those who transform, who have the courage to accept change. They understood that change itself is often the last instinct that keeps us strongly tied to survival, like a strong and vital impulse that arrives spontaneously and inevitably. Transformation is the theme of this KapArtPrize, a contest that takes place in 'kap,' one of the environments in Fontecchio that artists have taken care of and 'inhabited,' reshaping it, expanding it in many ways, making it alive and 'returning' it to the community, but changed. In fact, it's an environment in constant flux, adaptable... It's an intelligent environment that tends to change according to needs. Another transformed place is 'Le Officine,' the former school of Fontecchio, a space where there are working areas for resident artists and other professionals, and areas for listening, hosting book presentations, exhibitions, musical or theatrical events, and various activities. This space has been cleaned, cared for, and made more pleasant and usable. It has become a meeting place but also a place for reflection and a temporary gateway to many other realities in the territory and the world. Even the homes of the artists have become places of culture; during the event 'Niente di speciale,' they were open and welcomed visitors as if they were all together a constellation, a widespread studio, showcasing the artworks and setups, furnishings carefully thought out with great taste and deep understanding of spaces and functionality. Or the two 'Airports' that occurred in the village in different houses, where one lives surrounded by art and conviviality, where people can meet and encounter individuals and artists from around the world, sharing ideas, thoughts, reflections, or simply listening to music and exchanging conversations. Certainly, it is possible to understand how even the artists who live and inhabit the village have discovered something: without a community, without an environment that nurtures us and that we in turn nurture, without a certain quality of life, one cannot produce beauty; we wither like dry plants and lose the ability to communicate. It's interesting how within these considerations some words often emerge: environment, care, transformation. It would indeed be important to reflect on the meaning of the word 'Abitare' (to inhabit), which comes from the Latin 'Habere,' simply meaning to have. Because the way these individuals 'have had' some places in Fontecchio has nothing to do with possession, but primarily with care. With great patience, they have transformed all these places into interesting environments, rich in stimuli, pleasant, beautiful, and open to all. They have made them interesting and frequented again, in some cases, they have truly resurrected them. Thus, taking a very important step: the metamorphosis of the environment, amplifying its qualities, making it more sensory, pleasant, lively, thrilling, unconditionally giving what they felt or attracted them, what they breathed in the here and now, with truth and freedom. Without fundamentally wanting to teach anything to anyone, almost with the awareness, as Freud said, that education is one of the impossible tasks, not a kind of training but rather a unique encounter between subjects and between the subject and its desire.
Comentários