Matera's 'Land of Cockaigne' Blends Tradition, Technology, and Local Lore

Artists Navine G. Khan-Dossos and James Bridle curated 'The Land of Cockaigne' at Cava Paradiso in Matera, Italy, in 2019. The project emerged from their first visit to Matera in March 2019, inspired by encounters with transhumance shepherds, ritual officiants of the Pollino National Park, ethnomusicologist Nicola Scaldaferri, and scientists from the Matera Space Center who laser-range the moon and monitor oil spills. The exhibition celebrates Basilicata's coexistence of vibrant, radically different worlds, countering its historical reputation as poor and backward. Objects include a repurposed tombstone from the 2016 Ben-Hur remake hung as a moon, and a sculptural fountain shaped like a traditional cucù (clay whistle) with a satellite dish, created by Francesco Mitarotonda. The show emphasizes personal and 'living archives' through photo-montages, field recordings, and new artifacts. Technology is defined broadly, juxtaposing paper documents, floppy disks, songs, and stories as active, evolving knowledge. A highlight is Gianfranco Lionetti's Neolithic-inspired sculptures using found materials. The artists stress building Mediterranean relationships with peripheral places as critical aesthetic territories amid a collapsing center.