Francesca Chiacchio on ilpalinsesto, Performance, and Collective Art-Making

Francesca Chiacchio discusses her evolving project ilpalinsesto, which she describes as a 'magician's box'—a method of work and a form of collective aggregation. The project functions as a ludic society where participants explore color, body, and expression. Chiacchio draws inspiration from Italian television of the 1980s and 1990s, as well as Bauhaus and art history. Her performances, such as 'Noi, tondi pirotecnici' at Cenni di Cambiamento in Milan (2017), involve amateur and professional performers working with simple geometries and colors. She emphasizes coordination over invention, creating 'living assemblages' that adapt to context. Key elements include drawing as a means to translate thought into images, and the concept of 'maldestro' (clumsiness) as a creative quality. Chiacchio's background as an art historian and curator informs her practice, but she values practical art-making for the sensitivity it provides. The interview was conducted by Davide Dal Sasso and published on Artribune.