ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Saâdane Afif Turns Rome's Loggia dei Vini into an Open Rehearsal Room

exhibition · 2026-06-23

In its fifth edition, LAVINIA, a contemporary art initiative curated by Salvatore Lacagnina, showcases "Live in LAVINIA" by artist Saâdane Afif, coinciding with the restoration of the Loggia dei Vini in Villa Borghese, Rome. Originally constructed between 1609 and 1618, the Loggia was part of a wine storage facility linked to the Casino Nobile through an underground tunnel. Following a three-year restoration funded by Ghella, the venue is reopening in phases. Afif is repurposing the Loggia into a temporary rehearsal space until September 20, 2026, where musicians Federico Bisozzi and Simone Alessandrini will compose music for ten texts by various authors. The performance will feature Rosaria Angotti's voice. For over two decades, Afif has explored the notion of singular artistry by commissioning song texts from a diverse group, emphasizing the rehearsal process over the final product.

Key facts

  • Saâdane Afif presents 'Live in LAVINIA' at the Loggia dei Vini in Villa Borghese, Rome.
  • The Loggia dei Vini was built between 1609 and 1618 as part of a wine storage complex.
  • The restoration was donated by Ghella to the city of Rome.
  • The performance runs until September 20, 2026.
  • Musicians Federico Bisozzi and Simone Alessandrini compose music for ten texts.
  • The ten authors include Clara Meister, Deo Katunga, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Giulia Pollicita, Ina Blom, Jeanna Criscitiello, Marc Knauer, Nicolas Bourriaud, Shatha Afify, and Ugnė Uma.
  • The final performance will feature the voice of Rosaria Angotti.
  • Afif has been commissioning song texts inspired by his works for over twenty years.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • LAVINIA
  • Villa Borghese
  • Ghella

Locations

  • Rome
  • Italy
  • Loggia dei Vini
  • Villa Borghese
  • Casino Nobile

Sources

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