Serena Fineschi returns to Siena, turns off all city lights in public art performance

Serena Fineschi (Siena, 1973) has returned to her hometown in October 2024 after twelve years abroad, mainly in Brussels. She is known for two public art projects in Siena: 'Stato di grazia' (2024), a three-minute total blackout of the historic center's public lighting without prior notice to residents, and 'Assistere il buio', a permanent intervention involving seventeen artists who redesigned the city's historic lanterns. Fineschi studied in Siena and participated in the 'Artiste domicilié' residency program by Galleria Fuori Campo di Siena in 2012, which led her to stay in Belgium for over a month and eventually remain abroad for twelve years. She describes the Belgian light as having 'decisive cuts' that transformed her artistic practice. In the interview, she discusses the concept of 'provincial' as a cliché, citing Federico Fellini and Flaiano, and emphasizes community over system. The interview is part of Artribune's 'Provincia Cosmica' series mapping artists who choose to live outside major cities.