Contemporary Art and Archaeology
In-ruins residency 2023, Sibarys Archaeological Park, Deposta by Traslochi Emotivi, with Giulia Currà and Danila Gambettola,‘ Photo by Akshay Mahajan.
About
Founded in Calabria and promoted by Associazione Archeofuturo since 2018,
In-ruins is a nomadic residency program dedicated to exploring the encounter between contemporary art and archaeology. Through the temporary settlement of artists, curators, and researchers near monumental sites in Southern Italy, In-ruins reimagines the territory starting from its past. Ancient ruins become meeting grounds for urgent artistic practices and interdisciplinary dialogue, in the heart of peripheral contexts. Rooted in a post-southern and Mediterranean perspective, the project seeks to valorise not only archaeological heritage, but also the myths, traditions, and stories of the communities that have long inhabited and preserved it. In-ruins is directed by Nicola Guastamacchia (residencies) and Maria Luigia Gioffrè (performance section), with curatorship by Nicola Nitido. Since 2023, the residency has been developed in collaboration with Fondazione Elpis, Milan.
![AnnaulJournal_[FondazioneElpis]_22novembre_Draft4.pdfINRUINS2 (2).jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/23ab1a_6221f5cb85124f8b9248eb0cf99a2a16~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_694,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/23ab1a_6221f5cb85124f8b9248eb0cf99a2a16~mv2.jpg)
How we work
Over the past few years, In-ruins has emerged as one of the most compelling experimental residency programs in Italy, distinguished by its unique focus on archaeology and its itinerant nature. Rather than operating from a fixed location, we relocate each year to a different town, selecting a new archaeological site as the starting point for our work. This nomadic approach demonstrates the potential to conduct high-level contemporary artistic research in peripheral and often challenging contexts. Each site becomes part of an evolving journey, drawing connections between distant geographies and temporalities. Every edition is anchored in a public research project developed in collaboration with partner archaeological institutions. Our open calls articulate specific research axes that help guide participants in exploring the historical and contextual layers of each location.
Exploring situated, post-meridan horizons and practices
In-ruins is a pilot project and experimental model of good practice that connects contemporary art, cultural heritage, and marginal territories, with a strong focus on the Mediterranean context.
Based in Southern Italy, it responds to the absence of institutions dedicated to contemporary culture by activating archaeological sites through artistic research and production.
The residency highlights local and collective stories, turning them into catalysts for new reflections, while fostering a sense of pride and belonging among local communities.
By generating sustainable economic flows and proposing alternatives to extractive tourism, In-ruins demonstrates how peripheral areas can become central to rethinking the role of art in shaping inclusive and critical Mediterranean narratives.
![𝗜𝗻-𝗿𝘂𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 / 𝗨𝗡 𝗣𝗢𝗖𝗢 𝗗𝗜 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗘 🌋
𝗔 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲-𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗶 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗮.
After five weeks in the Vulture-Melfese, our four artists share projects shaped by its archaeological heritage and historical layers.
The final programme, ‘Un poco di polvere’ [A little dust], moves from the castle cisterns of Melfi to the streets, courtyards and convent of Venosa, following dust as what remains and what returns: matter that settles, travels and resurfaces elsewhere.
🗓️ Friday 9 October 2026
𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 – 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗶
11:00 · Cisterns of Melfi Castle
Nazira Karimi – ‘What Returns in the Current’ (video), with the voice of Titta Schirò and the participation of the students of the Liceo Artistico ‘Festa Campanile’
𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 – 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗮
18:00 · Convento della Madonna delle Grazie
Nona Inescu – ‘She Who Smokes in the Middle’ (installation and video)
18:45 · Ex Centro Anziani, Cortile San Sebastiano
Lucas Cornejo Pasara – ‘Lazzaretto’ (installation)
19:30 · Courtyard of Venosa Castle
Niccolò Masini – ‘Pulvis et umbra’ (sculpture)
To follow · Loggia of Venosa Castle – drinks offered by In-ruins
The videos will also be screened on loop at the “Mario Torelli” National Archaeological Museum in Venosa Castle, exceptionally open until midnight.
with:
Lucas Cornejo Pasara @cornejopasara
Nazira Karimi @nazirakar
Nona Inescu @nonainescu
Niccolò Masini @niccolomasiniio
Curated by @nicola_guastamacchia & @neetido
In-ruins residency 2026 is organized by:
in agreement with @museiparchimelfivenosa,
in partnership with the Municipality of Venosa,
in collaboration with @fondazioneelpis,
under the patronage of the Municipality of Melfi and @italiapatriadellabellezza,
with the support of the SABAP Basilicata and Museo Archeologico Nazionale Dinu Adameșteanu, in academic synergy with @ucl and @aha_network.
Design: @donatoloforese
Special thanks to our technical partners Ceramiche Muscatiello @muscatiello_ceramiche, Mastropasqua Marmi @mastropasquamarmi and Accademia del Sol @accademia_del_sol_venosa .](https://scontent-sea5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/837225175_18372383824243822_6536839453378214401_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=kSsxRC9T1z8Q7kNvwFZc8Xa&_nc_oc=AdpgBIgziSzEKOnIYr9bEuvh8TyILXbD_lSsYyZc6ojuPxO8A8Qf2Co3IZdwUq4D9Mo&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-sea5-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=jbdBOt3Au5J9_UjTLHwGmQ&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQIeNDwFTcac5UuohwyKRHDXB1NrSSXj8THVpmoxXGdtn_ag-wwrtaCrCfxWjkVSlFxMdgB5w3iA&oh=00_AQM7yDsjrMwBo6iugsSfmKLxz6zCpThkOg3zcebfCh6rRQ&oe=6ADEC2A8)
