Maurizio Coccia on the Biennale del Gran Sasso and Art in Italy's Inner Areas
In an interview with Artribune in October 2026, curator Maurizio Coccia elaborated on the inaugural Biennale del Gran Sasso. The event's first iteration, known as edition zero, took place in September 2026 throughout Abruzzo, turning the Apennine region into a hub of creativity. Coccia, alongside Andrea Lolli, Luca Pasquali, Valentina Bosio, and Patrizia Cianforlini, opted against a festival model, advocating for a sustained artistic engagement. Five artists produced site-specific installations that echoed the Gran Sasso's essence and tranquility. Local community participation helped tackle high-altitude challenges. Coccia highlighted the importance of cultural infrastructure and scientific inquiry, critiquing extractive art practices as a form of cultural colonization. He asserted that while art may not halt depopulation, it can restore dignity and revitalize neglected areas for future innovation.
Fatti principali
- The Biennale del Gran Sasso's edition zero took place in September 2026 in the Abruzzo mountains
- Maurizio Coccia is the curator of the Biennale del Gran Sasso
- The organizing group includes Andrea Lolli, Luca Pasquali, Valentina Bosio and Patrizia Cianforlini
- Five artists created site-specific works for the first edition
- The project collaborates with national research bodies including CNR-IRPPS
- Coccia rejects the festival-evento model and estemporaneo cultural tourism
- The interview was published by Artribune in October 2026 and written by Alex Urso
- Coccia warns against the paternalismo della marginalità and extractive cultural colonization
Entità
Artisti
- Maurizio Coccia
- Andrea Lolli
- Luca Pasquali
- Valentina Bosio
- Patrizia Cianforlini
- Alex Urso
- Daniela Gizzi
- Simone Cametti
- Francesco Mariano
- Veronica Vagnoni
- Serena Vittorini
- Xu Yang
- Antonio David Fiore
- Barbara Olivieri
- Roberta Ianni
Istituzioni
- Biennale del Gran Sasso
- Artribune
- CNR-IRPPS
- Frequenze dal Gran Sasso
- Il Cammino del Gran Sasso
- Fondazione Giorgio de Marchis Bonanni d'Ocre
- Accademia di Belle Arti dell'Aquila
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma
- Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le province dell'Aquila e Teramo
- Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga
- Fondazione Carispaq
- Centro per l'Arte Contemporanea Palazzo Lucarini di Trevi
- Manifesta
- Fondazione CarispAQ
Luoghi
- Gran Sasso
- Abruzzo
- Italy
- Apennines
- Castel del Monte
- Calascio
- Santo Stefano di Sessanio
- Barisciano
- Cammino del Gran Sasso
- L'Aquila
- Rome
- Trevi
- Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga
- China
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Russia
- London
- Teramo
- Campo Imperatore
- Baronia
- Rocca Calascio
Fonti
- Artribune —
- Rivista Segno —
- segnonline —
- Artribune —