ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Emilio Vavarella weaves his DNA into fabric at Ramdom exhibition

exhibition · 2026-04-27

Emilio Vavarella, born in Monfalcone in 1989, showcases two site-specific installations in Gagliano del Capo, Salento, as part of the exhibition 'Idee, ipotesi, assunti e oggetti,' curated by Ramdom, which concludes on September 13. In his piece 'rs548049170_1_69869_TT (The Other Shapes of Me),' Vavarella has transformed his genetic code into a 75-meter-long textile crafted by his mother using a Jacquard loom. This work delves into the connections between weaving and computing, as well as between DNA and fabric. Accompanying it is a video titled 'Genesis (The Other Shapes of Me)' and the loom itself. The second piece, 'Mnemoscopio' (2019-20), is an XR installation that projects 3D memory maps from interviews with returning emigrants onto a 360° view of the location, highlighting the subjective essence of memory.

Key facts

  • Emilio Vavarella is an artist and researcher born in Monfalcone in 1989.
  • The exhibition 'Idee, ipotesi, assunti e oggetti' is curated by Ramdom for the sixth edition of Italian Council.
  • The exhibition closes on September 13.
  • The work 'rs548049170_1_69869_TT (The Other Shapes of Me)' translates Vavarella's genetic code into fabric.
  • The fabric was woven by Vavarella's mother on an early 20th-century Jacquard loom.
  • The fabric is approximately 75 meters long and 60 cm wide.
  • The title refers to the first line of Vavarella's genotyping output.
  • The work includes a video documentation titled 'Genesis (The Other Shapes of Me)'.
  • A companion artist book is published with Mousse.
  • 'Mnemoscopio' (2019-20) is an XR installation using interviews with returning emigrants of Gagliano del Capo.
  • Vavarella's earlier works include 'The Sicilian family', 'Mnemodrone', 'Mnemografo', and 'Memoryscapes'.

Entities

Artists

  • Emilio Vavarella
  • Cecilia Pavone
  • Jessica Castaldo
  • Paolo Mele
  • Claudio Zecchi
  • Lorenzo Madaro

Institutions

  • Ramdom
  • Italian Council
  • Mousse
  • MAMbo
  • Accademia delle belle arti di Brera
  • Università del Salento
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Gagliano del Capo
  • Salento
  • Monfalcone
  • Italy
  • Puglia
  • Via Margherita di Savoia 79
  • Bologna
  • Milano

Sources