Explore the arts venues scattered across the remote Italian island, home to Volcano Extravaganza and the former villa of Marina Abramović
Plumes of smoke from an active volcano welcome visitors to Stromboli, a remote scrap of land off the North coast of Sicily. This rumbling beast never sleeps, making the island – the fabled seat of Aeolus, Greek ruler of the winds – feel like the edge of the world.
Stromboli’s active volcano. Photography: Michael Wilkin
Just 500 people live on Stromboli, made famous by Roberto Rossellini’s 1949 film of the same name. But despite the volcano’s threatening presence, it has long attracted an artistic crowd. Serbian performance artist Marina Abramović lived here for five years, and Italian artists Giovanni Anselmo and Mimmo Paladino also made it their home.
Black volcanic sand lines the beach beside the small village of Ficogrande. Photography: Michael Wilkin
Since 2011, Stromboli has played host to an annual art and music festival, Volcano Extravaganza. This free public event is presented by Fiorucci Art Trust, which invites a cohort of creatives from across the world to harness the raw power of nature.
Our sister brand The Vinyl Factory made the annual pilgrimage to the festival earlier this month. For the second year running, it curated the music programme, enlisting the talents of Icelandic musician Ragnar Kjartansson, DJ, artist and poet Juliana Huxtable and electronic duo Tempers, who wrote lyrics inspired by the island.
In this photo essay, The Vinyl Factory’s Michael Wilkin leads us on a tour of the Stromboli landscape, its white-washed villas – including Abramović’s former home – and one the world’s most remote music venues: Club Mega.
The only way to reach Stromboli is by boat across the tempestuous Tyrrhenian Sea. Spot the looming volcano in the distance… Photography: Michael WilkinWe made the choppy journey with Icelandic musician (and Vinyl Factory collaborator) Ragnar Kjartansson, pictured as the boat ploughs through the Strait of MessinaVolcano Extravaganza is hosted in outdoor settings and villas across the island, including the private homes of local Strombolians. Pictured are the gardens surrounding Marina Abramović’s former home, which now belongs to Fiorucci Art TrustAbramović’s old home played host to a group exhibition brought together by this year’s Volcano Extravaganza curator, artist Camille HenrotHenrot chose the theme of I Will Go Where I don’t Belong for the festival, exploring the sense of alienation from their environments experienced by immigrants and exiles. The group show inside Abramović’s former villa included works by Mike Nelson, Isola e Norzi, Walter Sutin and Vinyl Factory collaborator Rachel RoseHernot’s mural of waves and mythical characters are overlaid with photos from line-crossing ceremonies and shipwrecksInstallation view inside the villaThe Abramović house was built to endure extreme Mediterranean temperatures and the constant seismic activity, hence the thick walls and minimal windowsA shaded spot in the gardenA colourful Stromboli alleywayDue to the narrow streets and steep topography of the island, the only modes of transport are golf carts or motoriniA snapshot from a new music video featuring electronic duo Tempers on StromboliTempers perform live during Volcano Extravaganza, taking inspiration from the island for their lyricsA defunct pier points towards Isola di Strombolicchio – a stack of volcanic rock off the coast of Stromboli itselfA picturesque setting for a basketball courtNYC poet, artist and DJ Julianna Huxtable warms up the crowd at Club Mega for The Vinyl Factory’s Afro Disco PartyThe international art community joins locals at the clubArtist Ragnar Kjartansson performs at Club Mega, drawing on the perimeter of the island to create a musical voyage that explores themes of isolationSan Bartolomeo church, StromboliColourful local architectureGuests gather at La Lunatica for a poetry reading and to view an installation by artist Yona FriedmanPast Volcano Extravaganza curator and Vinyl Factory collaborator Haroon MirzaStreets brimming with bougainvilleaOur (mini) chariot awaitsA rare site on Stomboli, this red lorry brilliantly juxtaposed the dominant blue and green of the islandA ship docks metres from Stromboli shore to refuelFarewell Stromboli. Until next time…1 of 28
