ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Alessandro Facente's New York Quarantine Letter: Art, Stasis, and Solidarity

other · 2026-04-27

Curator Alessandro Facente, in a letter for Artribune's 'Letters from the Domestic Front,' recounts his experiences in New York City during the coronavirus lockdown from his studio-apartment in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He describes the eerie quiet of the city, occasionally pierced by ambulance sirens, and draws parallels between the pandemic and the aftermath of 9/11, citing a CNN piece by Ray Sanchez from March 22 and comments from Governor Andrew Cuomo. Facente relates this feeling of suspension to 'stasis,' a concept he explored with artist Andrea Nacciarriti during their 2019 project at Essex Street Market, which included a countdown timer for its closure on November 17, 2019. He also reflects on solidarity and the discrimination faced by Asian communities during this time, highlighting his choice to remain in New York as a gesture of support. This letter is part of Facente's 'Ai Confini del Visivo' series.

Key facts

  • Alessandro Facente wrote a letter from New York for Artribune's 'Letters from the Domestic Front' series.
  • Facente lives in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and describes the city's silence and frequent ambulance sirens.
  • He cites a CNN article by Ray Sanchez from March 22, 2020, comparing the pandemic to 9/11.
  • New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is quoted on changing perspectives and the need for kindness.
  • Facente references his 2019 project with Andrea Nacciarriti, '00 00 00 00 00 [Essex Street Retail Market]', at Essex Street Market in the Lower East Side.
  • Nacciarriti's installation included a countdown timer set to November 17, 2019, the market's closure date.
  • Facente discusses the concept of 'stasis' from Greek tragedies with Nacciarriti.
  • The letter is the second chapter of Facente's series 'Ai Confini del Visivo'.

Entities

Artists

  • Alessandro Facente
  • Andrea Nacciarriti

Institutions

  • Artribune
  • Essex Street Market
  • CNN

Locations

  • New York City
  • Bedford-Stuyvesant
  • Brooklyn
  • Lower East Side
  • Italy
  • USA

Sources