Vinicio Capossela on Art, Memory, and the Flying Thresher

In an interview with Artribune, Italian singer-songwriter Vinicio Capossela discusses the visual and artistic dimensions of his work, particularly his tenth studio album 'Canzoni della Cupa' (released May 5, 2016, on La Cùpa/Warner Music). The interview centers on the 'Flying Thresher' (Trebbiatrice volante), a machine-installation created with artist Marco Stefanini (Dummi) that appears in both Capossela's book 'Il paese dei coppoloni' and Stefano Obino's film. Capossela traces his artistic influences from Amedeo Modigliani and Oskar Kokoschka to cave paintings at Lascaux, and discusses his relationship with visual art, including collaborations with artists like Adrian Paci and Claudia Losi. He reflects on the ritualistic nature of his concerts in remote locations (Dolomites, Sila, Altilia), comparing them to Joseph Beuys's actions (though he admits unfamiliarity with Beuys). The album's graphic design by Jacopo Leone uses 'biodynamic communication' inspired by the concept of excavation. Capossela also engages with anthropologist Ernesto De Martino's idea that 'to not be provincial one must possess a living village in memory,' exploring tensions between tradition and cosmopolitanism. The interview covers his involvement in the Sponz fest in Irpinia, the Fòcara di Novoli event, and the role of art in healing historical fractures.