Live Works 2026 at Centrale Fies: Bodies, Memories, and Archives
On July 16, the 13th edition of Live Works was launched at Centrale Fies in Dro, Italy, alongside a solo exhibition by Monia Ben Hamouda, which spanned four days of performances and displays. The event was curated by Barbara Boninsegna, Simone Frangi, Mackda Ghebremariam Tesfaù, and Justin Randolph Thompson, in partnership with Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo and Palazzo Grassi – Pinault Collection Venezia. This year also celebrated the fifth installment of the Agitu Ideo Gudeta fellowship. Featured artists included residents like Kristina Kusmina Dreit and Pina Danila Gambettola. Ben Hamouda's showcase highlighted large metal sculptures that delve into themes of language and memory, complemented by a concert-performance from Publik Universal Frxnd and a conference-performance by Abdul Halik Azeez.
Key facts
- Live Works 2026 opened on July 16 at Centrale Fies in Dro, Italy.
- The 13th edition of Live Works and the 5th Agitu Ideo Gudeta fellowship were curated by Barbara Boninsegna, Simone Frangi, Mackda Ghebremariam Tesfaù, and Justin Randolph Thompson.
- Collaborators included Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo and Palazzo Grassi – Pinault Collection Venezia.
- Monia Ben Hamouda's solo show was curated by Simone Frangi and Barbara Boninsegna.
- Kristina Kusmina Dreit presented 'Druzhba sent from my iPhone (studio)', exploring Socialist Realism and family history.
- Pina Danila Gambettola performed 'The Third Bodies', referencing Eusapia Palladino and Cesare Lombroso.
- Other artists included Luc Ndikubwimana, Juan Yung Han, Tim Bartel, Eleni Roberts Kazouri, Vladimir Babinchuk, and Abdul Halik Azeez.
- Centrale Fies is a former Habsburg hydroelectric plant from 1911, disguised as a medieval castle.
Entities
Artists
- Monia Ben Hamouda
- Kristina Kusmina Dreit
- Pina Danila Gambettola
- Luc Ndikubwimana
- Juan Yung Han
- Tim Bartel
- Eleni Roberts Kazouri
- Vladimir Babinchuk
- Abdul Halik Azeez
- Publik Universal Frxnd
- Eusapia Palladino
- Cesare Lombroso
- Alexis Grigoropoulos
Institutions
- Centrale Fies
- Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo
- Palazzo Grassi – Pinault Collection Venezia
- Live Works
- Agitu Ideo Gudeta fellowship
- exibart.com
Locations
- Dro
- Italy
- Trentino
- Sarca River
- Milan
- Tunisia
- Kazakhstan
- Berlin
- Vienna
- Calabria
- Amsterdam
- Siberia
- Apulia
- Athens
- Indian Ocean
Sources
- Exibart —