Premiata Ditta's 'Profiles' Explores Azorean Community Through Drawing and Narrative

Milan-based artist duo Premiata Ditta (Anna Stuart Tovini and Vincenzo Chiarandà) published 'Profiles. Ritratti di cose e persone da un’isola in mezzo all’Atlantico' with Meltemi in January 2020. The project originated from their stays on Graciosa Island in the Azores, driven by affection for the place and its people. It aims to counter digital profiles imposed by global markets through affective bonds and time as dedication and care. The book features 10 black-and-white drawings (107×214 cm, 1:1 scale) of domestic interiors with personal objects, accompanied by captions detailing brand and place of manufacture. The project unfolded in three phases: community research, a public exhibition in August 2018 with guided tours by teachers, rangers, and former whalers, and a Portuguese book launch in summer 2019 with readings and music by participants. During the COVID-19 quarantine, the duo created new 'deceleration' works and planned to expand Profiles to UNESCO MaB areas in PoGrande. Premiata Ditta, active since 1984, founded the UnDo.Net network in 1995 and has organized Studi Festival and Walk-In Studio. The dialogue was conducted by Davide Dal Sasso, researcher at IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca.