Join us on Monday, July 14th at the Civitella Castle for the opening of t r a n s i e n t t r a c e s, an Installation by Rizvi Hassan. Gallery opens at 6:00 PM, Architect Talk starts at 6:10 PM and is also livestreamed on Instagram (@civitellaranieri), followed by Fellows’ Performance & Structure Unveiling at 6:30 PM. Refreshments will be served throughout the evening. The event is free to attend and RSVP is required.
“t r a n s i e n t t r a c e s” is a new iteration of Born in a Camp, an installation series developed within the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, the world’s largest refugee camp serving hundreds of thousands of Rohingya forcibly displaced from Myanmar. Designed in collaboration with a team of Rohingya artisans, who have not lost their will or passion—artisans who are not just craftspeople, but thinkers, writers, and philosophers, it holds letters, memoirs, stories, and poetry to tell the stories of its community to the world. It travels around the world and nests in places like Civitella—to collect, exchange, and share. A version of this piece is currently exhibited at the Venice Biennale. This artwork can be collapsed into four suitcases, an essential aspect of its design—underscoring both the need for portability when forced to leave one’s country and expressing the aspirational idea that anyone can rebuild.
This creation on the grounds of Civitella Ranieri, in the Upper Tiber Valley of Umbria, incorporates additional contributions of the current Fellows in residence. Writing of his installation, Hassan says, “It is now here on Civitella ground, on this Umbrian land, and— around it—new life blooms. A temporary space begins to materialize, emerging from connection and new experiences. ‘t r a n s i e n t t r a c e s ’ is a space, just for awhile. It grows through the beauty in its surroundings—fed by information, creative practices, poetry, and the spirits it has encountered in a short time. It gathers it all in order to build itself— blooming for a while before going away—leaving behind a subtle trace of itself in the nearby woods, so that nature can hold onto its essence.”
If this were a song,
I’d be singing by now.
Rizvi Hassan
Architecture, Bangladesh
2025 WOJR/Civitella Ranieri Architecture Prize Affiliated Fellow
Rizvi Hassan, a Bangladeshi architect, has been exploring various roles of a design professional in unconventional fields since the beginning of his practice. He has worked with Bangladeshi communities and Rohingya refugees to address different social and environmental issues. Contextual response, local identity, culture, and learning through collective making have been key features in his work. For his contributions, UN-OCHA recognized him globally in 2020. He also won the 2021 Architecture Sans Frontières Award and the 2022 Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
Monday, July 14th, 2025
6:00 PM CEST Gallery Opens
6:10 PM CEST / 12:10 PM EDT Architect Talk
6:30 PM CEST Fellows’ Performance & Structure Unveiling
Refreshments will be served throughout the evening