The first day at Civitella, I grabbed my computer and all my working materials, and went to the secret garden behind my room, determined to do a lot of work. I was eager to catch up with logistic aspects of my upcoming exhibitions, as well as on the conceptual elaboration of some of my pieces. When I got there, I put my things on the table and looked at the distance. I couldn’t do anything, no work, no nothing. I was overwhelmed by the view, the magnificent garden, the sounds, the castle’s strong presence. I spent the entire morning still, staring, unable to do anything productive. This made me realize that my residency should consist on being as open as possible to the amazing experience I was about to live, instead of being too focused on my working agenda.
Civitella is a place of excellence. Every single detail is thought out carefully. The gardens, the castle, the studios, the food, the after dinner drinks, the selection of Fellows, the trips, the presentations, are just some of the aspects that made the experience incredibly transformative and inspiring. Several months later, I still feel that I am processing all the information I gathered at Civitella. This was a life-changing experience, something that I won’t easily live again in the future.