2007-2008
Urban investigation project and landscape intervention.
Found yarns, plastic bags (12×8 cm), pantones, photographic prints, dye plant seeds, soil.
Former Cangioli Woolen Mill, Via Pomeria, Prato.
This work started out as a project to investigate a small piece of fallow land, where the Cangioli wool mill once stood: a residual space and the source of interesting findings, used as the basis on which to elaborate a landscape.
The rapid changes to which such areas are subjected to – new constructions, new pathways, demolition – eat up chunks of territory, leaving residual spaces in their wake, the significance of which is suspended.
The rapid changes to which such areas are subjected – new constructions, new pathways, demolition – eat up chunks of territory, leaving residual spaces in their wake, the significance of which is suspended. Leftover patches, and interstitial spaces overlooked are ones that lend themselves to being used as ‘reserves’, open to the imagination and creative freedom, in which to experiment with new uses and to elaborate thoughts, and from which previous traces may emerge. What remains of the building is the monumental chimney and a piece of land awaiting its next use, from which unforeseen landscapes may spring up.
Affioramenti is implemented as an ongoing intervention, in stages, from the earth to the earth.
Stage I. Identifying traces on the ground, the leftovers production of the ex-factory.
Stage II. Archaeological excavation. Removing layers of time in order to reveal the subconscious of the territory. Sampling, collecting.
Stage III Archiving. The archive process was based on colours, then I associated each colour of the threads with one of the plants for dye extracts, once used to produce that specific colour, and I made a graphical herbarium.
Stage IV. Sowing a temporary garden of dye plants, following a pattern based on a colour scheme. The garden was seeded in collective action on April 27, 2008.
Stage V. Display the materials gathered and elaborated in a graphic composition.
