Ex-mechanic's workshop in Tezze di Piave becomes art space Officina Malanotte

In the hamlet of Tezze di Piave, nestled among UNESCO hills in the Veneto region, the Bonotto Delle Tezze winery has transformed a former tractor factory into an art space called Officina Malanotte. The building, operational until 2005, retains its original industrial fixtures—office furniture, mechanical parts, and even a crucifix—preserving the atmosphere of Italy's post-war economic boom. The project, conceived by Antonio "Toni" Bonotto and his wife Vittoria, aims to give back to the local community through culture. Curated by Daniele Capra, a residency hosted five Italian artists—Thomas Braida, Beatrice Meoni, Nazzarena Poli Maramotti, Chris Rocchegiani, and Alessandro Roma—from May to June 2022. Each artist responded to the site's industrial heritage: Meoni explored the male-dominated mechanic world through self-portraits on tractors; Poli Maramotti created imaginary landscapes inspired by mechanical parts; Rocchegiani, struck by a hailstorm that damaged crops, devised new sacrality rooted in peasant rituals; Roma engaged with nature via a vase at the office entrance; and Braida produced figurative paintings of tractors and still lifes of found objects. The exhibition is open by appointment until July 10, often combined with a winery tour. The Bonotto family is already planning a community initiative called "Novecento" to collect photographs and documents about Tezze di Piave's history.