L'infinita varietà del tessere dall'epoca villanoviana a oggi

The original and primitive aspects of weaving are represented by the Tappeti Pazzoidi ("Mad Carpets"), mounted on tribal looms, and by the Coperte di Sapere ("Blankets of Knowledge") created by the great philosopher of weaving Luciano Ghersi (see L. Ghersi, Being and Weaving, Loggia de' Lanzi Editions). These are complemented by works featured in the educational section curated by Lydia Saraca Colonnelli, showcasing leading figures of international Art Brut, including Barbara D'Antuono, Ficht Tanner, Esther Tanner-Marcoux, and Micheline Jacques.

The works created by artist and musician Matteo Nasini then lead visitors into a primordial cosmic vibration of light and sound, echoed by the precious liturgical vestments displayed on the altars of St. Margaret's Cathedral, whose rich embroidery reinforces this sense of sacred resonance.

The intimate, inward-looking, and contemplative dimension of weaving and hand sewing is interpreted through a feminine universe that introduces a temporality shaped by listening and slowness, by relationships and connections that foster environment and community. This is reflected in the works of Lea Contestabile, Luisa Lanarca, Alice Schivardi, Kaarina Kakkonen, Anna Onesti, Enrica Biscossi, Christiane Löhr, and Isabella Nurigiani.

In contrast to this vision stand the tapestries produced by industrial workshops, capable of accelerating the weaving process. Rather than turning inward, these works engage directly with the world and society, addressing the urgency of contemporary issues: the brutality of war, as in Ciriaco Campus's Compound series; technological and astrophysical experimentation, as in Leonardo Petrucci's tapestries dedicated to the planet Mars; the contemplative visions of Alberto Di Fabio, where meditation becomes revelation; and the works of Filippo di Sambuy, inspired by the mysticism of the Book of Splendour (Zohar) and its aspiration to dissolve the distance between humanity and God.

Finally, at Palazzo Monaldeschi in Bolsena, visitors are welcomed by the section "The Villanovan Phase," curated by SABAP VT–EM, where the archaeological finds that inspired the exhibition are displayed. These artifacts testify that, as early as the Protohistoric period, weaving was already an activity and an art form that has accompanied humankind since its earliest beginnings.