Mappa del Borgo di Castelnuovo Val di Cecina
Riccardo Isacchini / Tommaso Carozzi
The cumbia of boredom
Position: Piazza xx Settembre
Size: 200 x 190 cm
There exists a magical place in a dimension suspended in time, where an angel and a demon find rest from their ancient battles, sharing an unexpected and surreal suspension of hostilities. The biblical war that saw them clash on opposite sides for dominion over humanity seems to have reached a truce. But upon closer inspection, their demeanor conveys no sense of relaxation. The two unlikely companions sit together in the shadow of a baroque niche, contemplating passersby and returning their gazes with a bored and melancholic air, revealing new tensions and inner torments. What feelings afflict them? Where do their thoughts wander? Is it perhaps inactivity that torments them? It is up to the observer to provide answers, or better yet, to evoke new questions and reflections.
Manusch Badaracco
Interior day
Position: Piazza del Plebiscito
Size: 200 x 300 cm
The description of my work is encapsulated in the title, which draws a parallel with the opening of film scripts. “Interior Day” serves as a cue for the crew to situate themselves in a specific space and time. Similarly, in front of the viewer lies not a precise narrative but a window/stargate, a metaphor for the connection between a world born long ago (the medieval village) and our modern life, through a gentle and integrated intervention. This way, I leave each of us the freedom to imagine a story worth telling, one that deserves to be remembered.
Daniela Benedini
Cherry Blossoms
People's Choice Winner 2025
Position: Via Garibaldi
Size: 160 x 250 cm
live between Paris and Milan, where I graduated from the Accademia di Brera with a thesis on Trompe l’oeil. For many years, I have been decorating private residences, sacred places, and outdoor spaces all over the world. I am a professor at the Aldo Galli Academy of Restoration in Como. “It’s not important what you do, but HOW you do it.”
Luis Alberto Gomez de Teran
The Girl with the Stone Earring
Position: Via Garibaldi
Size: 200 x 135 cm
The artwork was created with the goal of evolving the concept of trompe l’oeil, a technique that aims to deceive the viewer’s eye by giving the impression of three-dimensionality, yet is limited by the two-dimensionality of the painted surface. Here, the artist breaks this barrier by incorporating a sculptural element in harmony with the image: the girl’s earring, made from one of the stones that form part of the village’s landscape, found and worked among the alleys of the village itself . The woman, with a classical atmosphere but contemporary features, creates a symbolic link between the historical value of the places and their potential for modern rediscovery. The application of the earring celebrates the value of stone, even the smallest piece, which becomes precious and transforms into a jewel, an allegory of the fundamental role that places play for those who inhabit them.
Mirco della Secchia
Insects
Position: Via delle Piagge
Size: 160 x 250 cm
The artwork, created using spray paint and brushes, represents various facets of the human soul. The first beetle from the top, the orange one, is the potato dorifora beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), a significant pest that can devastate entire potato crops—the very tuber that sustained us through famines and wars for centuries. This beetle symbolizes CHAOS and the ease with which humanity can be brought to its knees, even by a small creature like this. The second is a Romborina, a typical blue scarab. In ancient Egypt, the scarab was considered sacred, partly due to its association with the human psyche and the incorporeal. It’s also easily likened to a skull when viewed from above. This beetle, therefore, represents the MIND and the capacity for creation, in contrast to the destructive nature of Chaos. The third is the Dung beetle, commonly known as the “dung roller.” In ancient Egypt, it was associated with Khepri, the god of the rising sun, who was believed to create the sun each day in a manner analogous to how the beetle rolls its dung ball. Painted in bright colors, this beetle, honoring its role in moving manure, symbolizes HUMILITY—the need, at times, to lower oneself to less virtuous roles in order to “roll” forward
Stefania Magni
Imaginative theater
Position: Fountain under Via delle Piagge
Dimensioni: 300 x 150 cm
I created a fairy tale (you can listen to it by scanning the QR code or read it from the flyer) that tells the story of the desire many of us have to be something different from what we are, without really knowing what that “different” thing is that we find so appealing (the owl envies the fox’s tail, thinking that through it, one can smell the scent of grass; the duck believes the hare’s ears are for flying higher…). I’ve poured a bit of everything about myself into this work: my experience in graphic design, in the poster advertising the show; illustration, in the creation of the set and characters; decoration, in the structure, curtain, and wall; and my playful lightheartedness in the story. The result is that IT’S NOT WHAT IT SEEMS, the title of the show, and in reality, it’s a trompe l’oeil!
Kimberly Alsop
It's even better than I imagined
Position: Piazza del Popolo
Size: 170 x 170 cm
My piece features my daughter, Anastazia, daydreaming about the beauty of life in Tuscany, with a glass of wine in hand, savoring every moment. My cat, Minx, co-stars, intently watching as the bottle she knocked over spills over the edge. The stained glass window in the scene showcases the emblem of Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina. In the background, a candle illuminates the town’s Patron Saint, Salvatore, symbolizing my thoughts for friends and family back home (or wherever they may be) who are facing difficult times, while I am fortunate enough to pursue what I love in this beautiful place.
Giulio Clementi / Viviana Clementi
The Song of the Rose - Before a Concert in Castelnuovo
Position: Piazza del Popolo
Size: 250 x 300 cm
The large panel is dedicated to Susy Bellucci. A sign next to the artwork describes the “story” that inspired the project, in memory of a folk concert that Susy, Giulio, and other musicians performed in 2006 in Castelnuovo Val di Cecina, while staying at the same Hotel dei Conti that recently hosted the two painters. The music room, with its decorated walls and illuminated by a large stained glass window, is brought back to life through the virtual opening of the stone facade, revealing the same instruments used by the folk group, as if during a break in rehearsals before the concert. On the left, a rose, cut but still in bloom, symbolizes the only presence of life and fragility, dedicated to the premature passing of Susy, who passed away in 2018. Next to the artwork, a QR code allows you to download the piece “The Song of the Rose,” a beloved song by Susy, performed by her.
Stefano Lucà
The boundaries of art
Winner of the Technical Jury 2025
Position: Via Mascagni
Size: 108 x 55 cm e 175 x 270 cm
A bustling artisan workshop filled with casts, studies, and ornaments. Dust settles on every surface, and a dim light envelops the scene where a sculptor is absorbed in shaping his work, while an apprentice assists the master, both sweating and covered in the dust of their labor. A little further away, a young woman in a white dress sits on a windowsill behind a grate, gazing out at the world and dreaming of a different reality. This piece aims to prompt reflection on the role of craftsmanship in the world of art and the part it has always played in the cultural landscape and urban fabric of our cities. A complex reality, built on passion and dedication, sacrifice, and perseverance. A gilded cage in which one sometimes feels trapped.
Mario Paolantonio
The Secret Door
Position: Piazzetta Dino Fulceri
Size: 170 x 270 cm
The artwork I am presenting here was painted using natural pigments combined with an acrylic binder suitable for outdoor use. The subject I envisioned aims to emulate the many glimpses captured by the fleeting glance we all cast when passing by an open door. I have therefore created a perspective play that invites the viewer’s eye to look through a slightly ajar door, behind which a figure in shadow can be seen within a domestic setting, caught in the act of painting. The light reveals certain objects and guides the viewer’s gaze to the figure in shadow, then continues toward the illuminated exterior wall behind the window. The painter, unaware of the slightly ajar door and the possible glances of passersby, gazes at their canvas, enveloped in a suspended moment that already belongs to the past.
Luca Guenzi
The Angel’s Courtyard - Gastronomy
Position: Porta Fiorentina
Size: 300 x 200 cm
I wanted to tell a story. In contrast to the Devil’s courtyard just outside the village, my Angel’s courtyard is a deli. It looks like an open shop, but if you pay close attention, you’ll notice that only imaginary foods and dishes are cooked and sold there. It’s a bit like a fairy tale, where those who watch can imagine flavors and dream of having the properties that each food promises. Just as by placing two strands of Vieri’s hair (the one who conceived and realized the festival project), anyone can have their own genius, or by infusing three of Mirco’s nails (the magical Mirco who helped us so much by providing panels, shaves, and platforms), one can gain his strength. Many people asked me why the door was open even though there was a ‘closed’ sign. The explanation lies in the fact that if you enter when the ‘closed’ sign is up, you risk becoming part of the menu… the chef is an angel, but a diabolical one.
Selene Crezzini
Parallel world
Position: Via Nuova
Size: 100 x 100 cm
A girl stands amidst the shattered remains of a window, her head turned towards us as if she senses our presence. Though she cannot truly see or hear us, she conveys a sense of awareness, creating a double illusion that draws the viewer into the scene. In a landscape of devastation and destruction, her resilience shines. The shattered window symbolizes the wreckage caused by conflict, but amidst the chaos, she is surrounded by vibrant birds with fiery plumage. They represent the enduring spirit of hope, their bright colors sharply contrasting with the surrounding desolation. Despite the turmoil, the girl’s gaze reflects inner strength and determination to persevere. The viewer is invited to contemplate the parallel worlds that exist within and beyond the image: the harsh reality of conflict contrasted with the enduring presence of hope. In this moment frozen in time, the young girl stands as a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit, offering a glimmer of light even in the darkest times.
Alison Woolley
Introspection
Position: wall of Chiesa della Misericordia
Size: 180 x 210 cm
Through introspection we can free ourselves from many prisons that we construct. Once we are free from mental prisons we find ourselves in contact with life itself, our bodies and out natures. Life then becomes an art of balance.
Arianna Fremura
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others
Position: Wall in Front of Vicolo del Chiassino
Size: 130 x 240 cm
A work inspired by George Orwell’s Animal Farm, from which I drew the title. Someone is attempting to break the chain to free the sheep; who knows if they’ll seize the opportunity…
It’s an invitation to reflect on the power of individual awareness and critical thinking. But it’s also a tribute to all the sheep that, over time, have passed through the ‘magical’ alley of Chiassino.
Luigi Esposito
And as if by magic...
Position: Via Martiri dell’indipendenza
Size: 180 x 210 cm
Here, the strength of light makes everything stand out, whether it’s stone, metal, water, or vegetation. Painting can create a world where images become wondrous, allowing us to cross a threshold, a “step” beyond reality, through imagination, fantasy, and creativity. Imagination begins with real perceptions and combines them in new ways, fantasy comes to its aid by adding unreal elements, and creativity seeks to reproduce these fantastical solutions. So, if for a moment we close our eyes and imagine losing ourselves in this peaceful and soothing place, we grant ourselves a break from a reality that can be overwhelming, dominated by fears, anxieties, and stress. Imagination can serve as a remedy, activating a process of trust and a conscious desire to earn moments of relaxation. And that’s no small thing.
