Fondazione Pino Pascali launches site-specific art project in Puglia's coastal towers

The Fondazione Pino Pascali, in collaboration with the Regione Puglia's Department of Tourism and Culture and the European CoHen (Coastal Heritage Network) project, has launched 'Fari e torri del fuoco segreto' (Lighthouses and Towers of the Secret Fire), a series of site-specific performances and installations in historic coastal towers and lighthouses across Puglia. Curated by Christian Caliandro and Nicola Zito, the project aims to restore and re-functionalize six historic sites, including three Aragonese watchtowers, as tourist-museum destinations and educational outposts. The preparatory phase ran from May to July 2023, involving site visits and community engagement. Six artists were assigned specific locations: Gea Casolaro (Molfetta), Serena Fineschi (Vieste), Claudia Giannuli (Ugento), Francesco Lauretta (Bari), Isabella Mongelli (Otranto), and Virginia Zanetti (Margherita di Savoia). The first event takes place on October 21, 2023, at Torre Pietra in Margherita di Savoia, featuring Virginia Zanetti's 'La danza del sale,' a performance and installation exploring the local salt pans and labor memory, created with choreographer M^ Teta Lonigro and local performers. The next event is scheduled for November 4 in Otranto with Isabella Mongelli. The project references J.R.R. Tolkien's 'secret fire' concept. The Politecnico di Bari contributed historical and architectural surveys. The works will enter the Fondazione Pascali collection.