Favignana's Curva Blu Residency Program by INCURVA

Since 2016, the non-profit INCURVA, founded by Giulio D’Alì Aula, has been fostering contemporary art research on the Sicilian island of Favignana. Its flagship initiative, Curva Blu, is a residency program that invites two Italian and two international artists annually. The fourth edition, held from June to July 2019, featured Francesco Pedraglio (Italy), Tania Pérez Córdova (Mexico), Margherita Raso (Italy), and Dominique White (UK). Curated by Marianna Vecellio and Attilia Fattori Franchini, the residency provides studios in the Ex-Stabilimento Florio, a historic industrial archaeology site. Artists are encouraged to experiment freely, culminating in public presentations that often spill into the island's landscape—caves, coves, and abandoned structures. D’Alì Aula, originally from Trapani, chose Favignana for its rich historical, social, and environmental layers, including its role in the First Punic War and its status as the largest marine reserve in the Mediterranean. The island experiences a stark seasonal contrast, with over 40,000 visitors in summer versus 3,500 residents in winter. The residency aims to offer artists time and space away from production pressures, focusing on research and experimentation rather than finished works.