Gianni D’Urso on Quarantine and New Project Space in Lecce

In an interview conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown, Italian artist Gianni D’Urso (born 1988 in Cisternino) discusses the impact of the pandemic on his practice and the art system. D’Urso, who returned to Puglia a year and a half ago after studying in Bologna, now works from a studio in the countryside of Latiano, surrounded by olive groves and cultivated fields. He recently co-founded a new project space in Lecce with Grazia Amelia Bellitta, but its inauguration has been postponed due to the crisis. Two solo exhibitions scheduled for June 2020 have also been delayed. D’Urso notes that isolation is not new to him, as he already worked in a remote rural setting, but the suspension of commitments has slowed his daily routine, allowing more time for idleness and creative reflection. When asked about the lesson for the art world, he shifts focus to the economic-political system, urging that people be placed at the center of interests. The interview is part of a series by Giuseppe Amedeo Arnesano on Artribune exploring how young artists cope with quarantine.