DUSKMANN's 'Prelude' at Palermo's Chiesa della Madonna del Soccorso

The DUSKMANN collective, formed by Edoardo Dionea Cicconi and Daniele Cavalli, presents 'Prelude' at the Chiesa della Madonna del Soccorso in Palermo, a 17th-century church closed for 40 years and reopened for this exhibition. The project originated from a 2016 trip to Sicily where both artists photographed stone surfaces with abstract veins and patterns. They expanded their research to marble quarries in Italy and worldwide, creating a series of 41 black and 41 white photographs selected from over 2,000 images. For the Palermo show, six white works are arranged in a semicircle around a large red jasper heart-shaped gem, harmonizing with the church's geometry. The exhibition is not conventionally accessible: a black panel blocks the entrance, with three small octagonal openings at different heights allowing peeks inside. A coin-operated mechanism illuminates the dark interior for a few seconds, emphasizing the project's introspective dimension and addressing safety concerns that prevent public access. The collective sought a disused church for its introspective and elevating qualities, and they are pleased that the exhibition has led locals to rediscover the church. 'Prelude' runs until November 4, 2018, and is part of Palermo's Capitale Italiana della Cultura 2018 program, coinciding with Manifesta 12.