Docks 74: New Urban Art Space Opens in Turin's Barriera di Milano

A new space dedicated to urban art, Docks 74, opens in Turin on October 19 with a solo show by Aris, a Tuscan artist at the forefront of post-graffiti in Italy. The venue is located within the Docks Dora complex, a former early 20th-century warehouse in the northern Barriera di Milano district, which has been a hub for underground culture since the 1990s. The space is run by the cultural association Il Cerchio e Le Gocce, founded in 2001 by graffiti writers Riccardo Lanfranco and Fijodor Benzo. The association previously organized Picturin, Italy's leading muralism festival and an internationally significant event between 2010 and 2012, which spurred numerous street art initiatives. While Picturin is not being revived due to lack of municipal support, Docks 74 aims to rekindle attention on urban art, focusing on underground and less commercial expressions. The space will host artists from the graffiti and urban art scenes locally, nationally, and internationally, particularly those who work in abandoned sites, freight trains, and disused structures. The inaugural exhibition, Urban Layers, features Aris, known for his work in urban contexts. The association emphasizes a commitment to artists driven by genuine passion and empathy with the city and its decay.