Desideria Burgio's 'Il caso della stella' Unites 640 Children in Palermo Schools

Artist Desideria Burgio (born 1978 in Palermo) presents 'Il caso della stella', a photographic installation featuring portraits of 640 children aged 2 to 10 from two Palermo schools: Istituto Comprensivo Mattarella-Bonagia and Istituto Gonzaga. Curated by Maria Rosa Sossai, the work is part of the second edition of BAM – Biennale Arcipelago Mediterraneo, a festival of theater, music, and visual arts focused on themes of hospitality and dialogue, running in Palermo until December 8. Burgio photographed each child and arranged the portraits into two star-shaped mosaics, one displayed at each school. The stars symbolize unity under a shared sky, dissolving differences and barriers. The Mattarella-Bonagia school, located in a peripheral neighborhood, is led by a proactive principal; the Gonzaga school, a private Jesuit institution in the city center, offers scholarships to less affluent students. Sossai notes that future meetings will bring the children together through drawing and writing, with results compiled into an artist's book. The project extends beyond the exhibition, fostering ongoing interaction between the two student bodies.