Now in its 4th edition, the International arts festival, FestiWall will return to Ragusa, Italy on September 10 with a new roster of internationally acclaimed street artists. Adding to the collection of public art that’s steadily flourishing around the city, the week long festival has revitalized the community and put Ragusa on the map as a cultural destination.
Founded and curated by Vincenzo Cascone and Antonio Sortino, they’ve also organized a wider range of programming this year that will be held at the Lanificio, a historic textile mill built in the 60’s. The space will be transformed into an art haven for the public to enjoy four site-specific exhibitions as well as workshops, lectures, live music and comedy performances.
FestiWall’s 2018 roster of artists are Hense (USA), Mohamed L’Ghacham (ES/MA), Alexey Luka (RU), Telmo Miel (NL), Pastel (ARG) and Dimitris Taxis (GRE). Despite their vastly different avant garde styles, their pieces will touch upon current affairs interpreted through hyperrealism, figurativism and futurism. Along with painting around the industrial quarter of Ragusa, a populated area that lacks in community spaces, the artists will create new works along murals done previously by artists that have participated in the project.
FestiWall is a unique example of an independently funded project backed by professionals that are active in the local community and understand the power behind programs and initiatives that expand the italian art scene and also makes Ragusa one of the main destinations for those passionate about Street Art.
As stated by Cascone and Sortino “The festival’s main goal is to open a dialogue between urban spaces and communities using city’s walls and street art as a medium. This could be the first step towards a new perspective and a new development of the city.”
