Farm Cultural Park | The experience of Toma Gerzha and Mosa One
It’s now finished the artistic residence at Farm Cultural Park, partner of Arte Laguna Prize that collaborated for the realization of a special prize.
Farm is a cultural independent centre that rises in Favara, Sicily, semi-abandoned site which has been greatly transformed in a fervent cultural place where art, creativity and inclusivity are ways to regenerate the territory and to give a city without a past, a present and a future.
The residence recently welcomed the winning artists of the special prize Toma Gerzha (Russia) and Mosa One (Italy), selected between the artist of the 17th edition of Arte Laguna Prize. They were chosen to be part of the protagonists of the project Pleasure and Cities, name of the third edition of Countless Cities, Biennale of the Cities of the World, which aim to analyse the different spheres of pleasure that makes us prefer a city over another.
The themes of the project were Laboratories of new worlds, research by experts, philosophers and artists to create the perfect city, Nature in cities which aims to re-built the relationship between human and nature after Covid-19 and the increment of nature in public spaces and city centres, and last Youth power in our cities, which consists in exploring the innovative character that young people use to “question the status-quo”, proposing new lifestyles and values for the city they live in.
Here is what Toma Gerzha and Mosa One told us about the experience.
How would you describe your experience in Farm in few words?
Mosa
My experience at Farm with brilliant and felt really part of the great family of Farm, hope to extend my collaboration with them and keep working for more projects in the future.
Toma
At Farm Cultural Park I really liked the environment, there are so many artists, and everyone is willing to help each other.
Also, all my expenses were covered, which for a young artist is incredibly important – being able to not think about financial issues and to focus entirely on creativity and art.
Even though I don’t speak Italian, everyone tried to make everything as understandable as possible for me. There was a clearly described programme and the organisation was top class. I didn’t have any boredom!
Could you give us a brief explanation of the work you have realized for the final exhibition at Farm?
Mosa
During my stay at farm I worked on “Half & Half” it’s an art installation made with traditional Islamic carpets (sajjada) that serves as an attempt to transcend cultural borders and represents the complexity of an individual caught in a continuous conflict between his two different cultures.
Despite learning to adapt to this dual identity, one often finds themselves in a constant struggle.
There is a sense of being an incomplete puzzle, searching for balance with the available pieces and striving to complete it.
However, in this process you create a unique blend of cultures, becoming a double source of strength and enlightenment.
Toma
For Farm Cultural Park in Mazzarino I’ve created a series of photographs printed on leaves – “Family Tree” series. This project explores my family’s photo archive. It occurred to me that family is formed not only of the people you spend your childhood with, but also owing to memory that can generate ties across the time, hence break boundaries.
By combining leaves from trees and archive family photos I created my physical family tree using the chlorophyll printing method. You can view the final exhibition here: https://www.instagram.com/ar/787440469542472/