Mariangela Capossela on Art, Emigration, and Community at Sponz Fest

Mariangela Capossela, an Italian artist born in 1970, discusses her work at the fourth edition of Sponz Fest, a festival of music and traditions in Alta Irpinia, Italy, founded by her brother Vinicio Capossela. The festival, which concluded on August 28, 2016, includes an art section called SponzArti. Capossela, who studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna and has lived in France since 2004, presented two performances: 'Amore in polvere' and 'Il velo della sposa'. These works engage with themes of dust, emigration, and collective memory, using local traditions and community participation. Capossela's practice focuses on social and public art, addressing the trauma of Italian emigration and the redefinition of place. She emphasizes collaboration with local communities, particularly women, and uses textiles and sewing as metaphors for social fabric. The festival also revived a local train line, which inspired 'Amore in polvere', a tribute to commuting couples separated by emigration. 'Il velo della sposa' involved a long veil unfurled over hills, referencing her mother's wedding. Capossela's work aims to subvert patriarchal traditions and create shared aesthetic experiences.