Watercult Video Art Program at Videocittà Explores Water as Geopolitical and Ecological Force
The ninth iteration of Videocittà is scheduled for July 10–11, 2026, at Rome's Terrazza del Gazometro G3. This year's event showcases 'Watercult,' a curated video art program by Damiana Leoni and Rä di Martino. Featured artists include FLATFORM, Cecilia Bengolea, Monira Al Qadiri, Shahzia Sikander, and Adrian Paci, all addressing issues related to ecological crises and global power imbalances. Notable pieces are FLATFORM's 'Quello che verrà è solo una promessa,' Cecilia Bengolea's 'Lightning Dance,' Monira Al Qadiri's 'Diver,' and Shahzia Sikander's '3 to 12 Nautical Miles (2026).' The second night will present Adrian Paci's works 'Turn On' (2004), 'Di queste luci si servirà la notte,' and 'The Column,' focusing on themes of instability and transition.
Key facts
- Videocittà ninth edition runs July 10–11, 2026 at Terrazza del Gazometro G3, Rome
- Watercult curated by Damiana Leoni and Rä di Martino
- FLATFORM's 'Quello che verrà è solo una promessa' filmed on Funafuti island
- Cecilia Bengolea's 'Lightning Dance' shot during night storm in Jamaica
- Monira Al Qadiri's 'Diver' references pearl fishing in Persian Gulf
- Shahzia Sikander's '3 to 12 Nautical Miles (2026)' addresses Opium Wars
- Adrian Paci's 'Turn On' (2004) shown at 51st Venice Biennale
- Paci's 'The Column' involves a Corinthian column carved during transport from China to Europe
Entities
Artists
- Damiana Leoni
- Rä di Martino
- FLATFORM
- Cecilia Bengolea
- Monira Al Qadiri
- Shahzia Sikander
- Adrian Paci
- Francesco Rutelli
- Anna Lea Antolini
- Michele Lotti
- Apparat
- Mario Martone
- Giuseppe La Spada
- Ryuichi Sakamoto
- Franco Battiato
- Francesca Heart
- Amanda Lana
- Cao Yuxi
- Sara Persico
- Mika Oki
- Mace
- Nziria
- Populous
- Furio Ganz
- Donato Dozzy
- Neel
- Guido Geminiani
- Delfina Stella
- Simone Arcagni
- Vincenzo Pizzi
- Stefano Conca Bonizzoni
- Giulio Boccaletti
- Alfonsina Russo
- Alessandro Lanza
- N.A.I.P.
- Valentina Tanni
- Siamounmagazine
- Eki
- Valerio Ferrara
- Elisabetta Modena
- Vino
- Matilde De Feo
- Federico Ferrazza
- Guido Pietro Airoldi
- Marco Capasso
- Sascha Ring
- Monira Al-Qadiri
Institutions
- Videocittà
- Flash Art Italia
- Terrazza del Gazometro G3
- MAXXI
- Centre Pompidou
- Fondazione Prada
- Academy Awards
- 51st Venice Biennale
- Eni
- Visioni Parallele
- Niulab
- Eventitaliani
- eFM
- Guggenheim Bilbao
- Biennale di Venezia
- Impersive
- Tenuta presidenziale di Castelporziano
- CO-VISION
- Diversion
- Rai Cinema
- CMCC
- Ministero della Cultura
- Fondazione Enrico Mattei
- MAECI
- ICE
- Filmmaster
- IGPDecaux
- IED
- NABA
- RUFA
- Saint Louis College of Music
- Istituto Rossellini
- Cinecittà
- Archivio storico Luce
- CMCC – Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici
- ArtsLife
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Funafuti
- Jamaica
- Persian Gulf
- Kuwait
- India
- China
- British Empire
- Albania
- Florence
- Arno River
- Europe
- Gazometro
- Opificio 41
- Opificio 60 Nord
- Anfiteatro
- G3
- Main Stage
- Milan
- Cortina
- Castelporziano