Mathew McWilliams's 'Observatory' at Exchiesetta in Polignano a Mare

Canadian artist Mathew McWilliams (born 1973 in Vancouver, lives in Paris and Sydney) presents 'Observatory' at Exchiesetta, a deconsecrated 14th-century church in Polignano a Mare, Italy, curated by Roberto Lacarbonara. The installation features celestial veils floating in the white stone interior and a floor covered with thermal blankets, evoking both Catholic chromatic mysticism and the colors of the sea and migrant landings. McWilliams, known for subtle interventions in unusual sites—such as a show in an abandoned pharmacy in Montasola and a tracing of an alchemical arch in Rivodutri—here engages with historical space and contemporary drama. The church, which previously stored works by Pino Pascali and now functions as a gallery visible only from outside, becomes a vessel for a complex dialogue between beauty and the humiliated, echoing Albert Camus's principles. At night, the installation reverses light: the celestial depths of the interior glow when the sea darkens. The exhibition runs until September 4, 2016.