Stefano Arienti Maps Europe with Stones in Valle d'Itria

Italian artist Stefano Arienti has created a site-specific installation for Dep Art Out in Ceglie Messapica, using stones collected from the surrounding landscape of Valle d'Itria. Curated by Carmelo Cipriani, the project transforms a traditional trullo—the summer venue of the Milanese gallery for five years—into both a focal point and a threshold. The installation comprises two works: inside the trullo, 'Mondo libero' features 200 stones of various shapes, each inscribed with the name of a country, arranged without hierarchy to convey a message of universal peace. Outside, a large political map of Europe is rendered as a land art piece, prompting reflection on the continent's construction and role in global geopolitics. Arienti, who studied agricultural sciences before turning to art in the mid-1980s under the guidance of Corrado Levi, discusses in an interview how his scientific background influences his practice—particularly his habit of collecting and cataloging materials, and his belief that an artwork is a living organism with autonomy. He also explains his unconventional techniques (piercing, burning, folding, dotting, erasing), which he invented out of necessity, and his engagement with masters like Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, Boetti, and especially Pascali, whose playful and mimetic approach he admires. The installation opens today from 7 to 9 PM.