Between Tradition, Innovation and Sustainability: Interview with Viola Moschettini, curator of the artist residency at Corte dei Salentini

Corte dei Salentini is a renovated masseria, a traditional type of rural house, typical of the Italian region of Apulia. This Bed and Breakfast establishment will host six artists for a residency, from the 11th of May to the 19th. The participants of the residency will have the opportunity to explore new artistic techniques, showcase their artworks online and offline, and enjoy this experience as if it was a vacation, meeting new people and making exciting connections.

I interviewed Viola Moschettini, Art Curator, Art Advisor and Exhibition Registrar, to know more about the residency, and her goals and ideas. She will assist and advise the artists during their stay.

Gaia: Could you tell me a bit about your background and your job? 

Viola: Yeah, of course. So, I'm an independent curator and exhibition registrar and today I live and work in Milan, after being active in London for about two years and a half. Since the beginning of the year, I have been also a member of the Cultural Ethical Committee of the Amedeo Modigliani Foundation. Among my past work experiences, I have worked at the British Museum, in other galleries in London and museums in Milan, and I was the gallery manager of the Amedeo Modigliani Foundation. Talking about my recent projects, I curated  Franco Onali’s Digital Historical Archive and I organized, in collaboration with HistoryLab, a workshop at the Institute of Historical Research in London, about demonology and gender, during International Women's Day. 

G: Thank you, that's very interesting. So, what do you strive to achieve as the curator of this art residency in particular? What are your main goals and also how do you join them with your previous experiences? 

V: My goal, as the curator of this initiative, is to promote and highlight the artistic, historical, cultural and then gastronomic aspects of the Salento territory, both in Italy and abroad. My aim is to achieve this by using an artist residency program, which is a tool that is already widely used in the north of Italy and worldwide. I also have past experiences with other artist residencies in London, for example. This, I think, will also encourage the interaction between individuals from different backgrounds, allowing them to highlight the theme from various perspectives and points of view.

G: So, is there a particular theme that you encourage the artists and future visitors to explore?

G: Related to this, what are some steps that you are going to take to promote sustainability? 

V: Since its foundation, that was about 10 years ago, long before the artist residency program, our Masseria, Corte dei Salentini, has embraced a sustainable approach from multiple perspectives. Firstly, we generate our own electricity using photovoltaic panels. Also, for example, we use water that is sourced from our own well. We also provide visitors with breakfast, which is made with locally produced foods, such as fresh fruits, homemade jams, these kinds of things.

G: So, regarding traditions, are you planning any activities tied to local customs and territory, of course besides what we just talked about?

V: Yeah, of course, the theme of tradition doesn't solely focus on Salento traditions in this edition, because

To achieve this, we will primarily highlight Salento traditions, for instance by dedicating a day to tours through Salento's historical and cultural sites where artists can find inspiration for their work. But additionally, we will also provide sculptors with a free sample of Pietra Leccese (Lecce limestone), which is offered by courtesy of our sponsor Pitardi Cavamonti, allowing them to work with a material that is intrinsic to our local tradition. Moreover, during the exhibition opening, the Vernissage, we will offer a small tasting of local gastronomic products, which are offered by our sponsor Salentoeat. 

G: What is something else that is notable, or inspiring for instance, about the Corte dei Salentini? 

V: The fact that we are bed and breakfast, aiming to make our guests feel pampered and relaxed, just like at home. We pay great attention to the care of our extensive green outdoors areas and to the personal needs of our visitors – if they, for example, prefer savory  breakfast or sweet breakfast, or whatever they need. 

G: What are some opportunities that this residency will provide for artists that other residencies might not offer? 

V: Well, first and foremost, what stands out is the opportunity to combine an artist residency program with a vacation. In fact, each artist will have their own personal accommodation and the option to bring an accompanying person. Furthermore, unlike most other artist residency programs,

Additionally, each artwork will be authenticated using blockchain NFT digital technology provided by our sponsor, WovLabs. Last but not least, there will also be a Catalogue of exhibits, offered by the Financial Advisor Office in Lecce of Banco Mediolanum. Therefore, I would say that our program is substantially different from others. In fact, its validity has been recognized by local institutions, such as the Province of Lecce and the Biblio Museum Hub of Lecce, who have provided their patronage to the initiative.

G: And what do you think about NFTs which you work with, in particular, as a way of authentication? 

V: So, the authentication of the artworks will be carried out using NFT phygital technology, registering all data on the blockchain. This offers significant advantages, both to the artist who will have advantages in terms of documentation and logistics, for example, and from the perspective of increased security for the collectors as well, regarding the authenticity and the provenance of the artworks. That's why experts from WovLabs will be responsible for installing their chips on the artworks, making this information available for anyone, even just using their mobile phone. This certification will be available to those who purchase the artworks. 

G: Lastly, what do you think about the theme of tradition that we talked about, in relation to these new opportunities that technology offers, compared to more traditional ways of authenticating and showcasing? 

V: This is a tricky question, and to answer it I would like to refer to my personal logo, first and foremost. It features the image of a caryatid, symbolizing traditions, but the image is melting, transforming into water. And this is because often when looking at contemporary art, especially to the contemporary art scene, as I emphasized earlier, I notice how art is often something to be consumed just during that specific moment. What happens is that people forget both the technique and the role that art had in the past which has led us today to having artifacts dating back thousands of years.

Visit the official website of Corte dei Salentini for more information about the program!