Past, present and cultural identity all come together in southern Italy this month for ‘Intrecci Intertwinings’, a collective exhibition launched last week in the small rooms and passageways of Ex Monastero dei Cappuccini, a former Capuchin monastery in the Puglian town of Lecce. The show aims to promote social and territorial regeneration and foster a profound rediscovery of the Salento peninsula and its rich heritage by showcasing a diverse range of artists from various backgrounds and disciplines. Each work contributes to a collective narrative of intertwining languages, fostering shared reflections on memory, craftsmanship and the artistic and natural landscape. The show runs until September 14.

To activate the ancient, frescoed spaces of the 17th-century monastery, curators Valentina Rito and Giacomo Niccolai have focused on three interconnected themes. ‘Light and Ritual’ examines the heritage of lanterns and lamp oil as symbols of rural life. ‘Threads and Weaves’, drawing inspiration from Salento’s textile tradition, features the 1/1/1 textile series by 6:AM, which poignantly incorporates Lecce stone dust in a natural weave. And ‘Matter and Roots’ explores ancient ties with the land through materials such as Lecce stone, olive wood and trees infected by the xylella bacterium, as in the case of Andrea Vitti’s wooden creations, crafted by local artisan Rodolfo Rolli.

Highlights include Daniele Papuli’s layered paper sculptures, which breathe new life into reclaimed fibres, and Capiz shell creations by British sculptor Rowan Mersh, which resemble living, breathing creatures.

A series of talks at Palazzo Carida Ramirez in the town of Salve will accompany the exhibition, focusing on key themes such as urban planning, design, territorial identity and social regeneration processes.

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