Valeria Orani's 'Amina' Project Connects Sardinia and New York Through Art Residencies

Valeria Orani, a Sardinian-born curator based in New York since 2014, launched the Amina project in 2019 to create a cultural exchange between Sardinia and New York. The name 'Amina' means 'soul' in Sardinian and reads the same backwards, symbolizing a round-trip movement. Orani collaborated with curator Fabio Acca to select three artists for residencies in New York: Maurizio Saiu (choreographer and musician), Alessandro Carboni (visual artist and performer), and Cristian Chironi (visual artist). Their residencies took place in autumn 2019, with each artist conducting research and presenting public talks. The project was to culminate in a performance in Sardinia in autumn 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced postponements and a shift to documentary films. The final phase aims to bring international buyers and influencers to Sardinia during carnival to promote cultural tourism. Orani emphasizes the concept of 'travel as an artist' and the importance of cultural exchange beyond seasonal tourism.