Gabriella Siciliano's Disassembled Carousel Installation at Palazzo Braschi

Gabriella Siciliano (b. 1990) has created a site-specific installation at Palazzo Braschi in Rome, evoking a dismantled amusement park from the Neapolitan hinterland. The work, titled "Mi manchi" (2022), features carousel horses transformed into bumper cars, arranged symbolically: two close together simulating affection, one isolated at the far end. A floor-washing hose lies on white tiles, and a transparent industrial plastic curtain encloses the space, creating a threshold. The installation is part of Quotidiana, an exhibition program on contemporary Italian art promoted by the Quadriennale di Roma and Roma Culture, Sovrintendenza Capitolina ai Beni Culturali. Curated by Gaia Bobò, the Portfolio section has previously featured solo shows by Alessio Barchitta, Daniele di Girolamo, and Giuseppe Di Liberto. Siciliano's work reinterprets memory-laden places with essential elements, questioning a pop matrix. The atmosphere recalls the bittersweet, unhealthy settings of Matteo Garrone's films "Gomorra" and "Reality." The installation offers a model for future Portfolio participants, emphasizing the importance of ad-hoc installations for broader public engagement.