I’ve just come back from my third CVTà Street Fest (the second as the festival’s social media manager). Over the years, I’ve written extensively about the festival—Alice Pasquini even called one of my pieces “the best article that has ever been written about CVTà”—and so, having already shared so much through writing, I decided to change things up this time and created a raw and shaky vlog to capture the madness of CVTà Street Fest’s production week.
In this vlog, you’ll get a true peek behind the scenes of Italy’s top street art festival. You can soak in the atmosphere of the busiest week in the semi-abandoned village of Civitacampomarano, see the artists at work, and get some insights into my life.
For me, the funniest part is watching myself go from being very formal on day one, asking Snik’s Loris serious questions while she works, to running out in slippers to say goodbye to Strok on Sunday afternoon. :-)
Enjoy the video, and make sure to follow me on YouTube if you aren’t already!
But I still want to write something serious, though.
It won’t be the usual recap I write after street art festivals, but I want to share the stories behind the artworks created for CVTà Street Fest 2024, along with some anecdotes. (if only to have these stories archived here on the blog since the vlog doesn’t go in-depth about the artworks—it’s more about the festival’s vibe and showing you how a festival production works).
So, let’s go through the artworks one by one!
SNIK (UK) for CVTà Street Fest 2024
This piece exemplifies the poetic style of the renowned English duo, celebrated worldwide for their ethereal portraits and scenes that blend dream and reality. Their work delves into themes such as beauty in decay, the transient nature of the natural world, and the inevitability of change.
Reflecting on the ephemeral nature of street art, this portrait of a woman adorned with a crown of flowers and leaves, rendered with intricate stencils and expressive golden hues, captures the essence of impermanence and the delicate beauty of life. The vegetation covering the woman’s face, along with the real plants that will grow around her over time, symbolizes the passage of time and nature’s resilience in reclaiming its space.
I was thrilled to reconnect with Snik at CVTà Street Fest 2024. It’s no secret that I love their art, and I was confident that their work would blend symbiotically with the village. Their art is deeply contextual, always considering the surroundings and the passage of time. I knew they would create something extraordinary for Civitacampomarano, where art is inherently contextual—this is a defining feature of the festival.
Their works age so poetically, and I’m already excited to see how this artwork evolves next year. I also appreciate how this piece, despite its majestic scale, maintains a delicate, non-imposing quality that conveys powerful emotions without overwhelming the viewer (and this is true also for their largest piece to date, which I witnessed coming to life last year in Aberdeen)
TAXIS (GR) for CVTà Street Fest 2024
Dimitris Taxis‘ work completes a triptych that illustrates the folly of humanity, highlighting our inability to coexist and our centuries-long history of conflict. The first mural in this series was created by the Greek artist in Bari, depicting three girls standing in front of a burning car. The smoke from the fire drifts to Gallipoli, where Taxis crafted the second piece of the triptych, emphasizing humanity’s territorial instincts—instincts that have fueled wars both ancient and modern. In the background of this second mural, people can be seen on mountains. This background scene from the Gallipoli mural becomes the focal point in Civitacampomarano. The girl in Taxis’ mural in Civitacampomarano is one of those small figures on the mountains, looking ahead and reflecting on why humans are perpetually at war and why peace remains elusive.
I’m grateful I had the chance to meet this incredible artist and wonderful human being. From the very first day, Dimitris was the first to arrive at the wall and the last to stop working. In the final days, he didn’t even pause to eat, having lunch and dinner by the wall to complete his mural on time.
Despite working all day under the scorching sun, he always maintained a cheerful mood, constantly joking and smiling with the rest of the group. His radiant energy and Greek humor were infectious. Truly an amazing person with a beautiful soul—I can’t wait to see him again in Athens this autumn!
OCTAVI SERRA (ES) for CVTà Street Fest 2024
Octavi completed his main piece before I arrived in Civitacampomarano, so I don’t have any photos of him at work. This mural addresses a common modern-day struggle: the difficulty people face in confidently choosing their own path.
We are bombarded with images on social media and elsewhere, showcasing opposing political views, countless vacation spots, and a multitude of ideas, discussions, possibilities, and lifestyles. This flood of often misleading information leaves society feeling overwhelmed and lost. The excess of information and options, combined with the impossibility of incorporating them all into one’s life, leads to anxiety and depression. In his mural, a large arrow represents a decision made, but it is composed of many small arrows, symbolizing all the insecurities and fears that influenced that final choice.
After creating this mural, Octavi and I explored some abandoned houses together, and this theme of depopulation inspired two conceptual installations he created afterward: the lamp and the door. The first installation features a lamp carved into the time-worn shutters of an abandoned house, symbolically illuminating the issue of depopulation in Civitacampomarano.
The second installation is a trompe-l’oeil of a door, where the artist, with a touch of irony, depicts a village that is slowly fading away.
I had been eagerly anticipating meeting Octavi, as I’ve been a big fan of his work for many years, particularly his ironic magazine “The Post-Traumatic” and his conceptual installations. I’m glad we finally met and had the chance to collaborate!
STROK (NO) for CVTà Street Fest 2024
This mural is called “A Tale of Two” and is part of a series that explores themes of affection, boundaries, trust, and the general struggle for acceptance. Strok currently has an exhibition in Berlin exploring the same theme.
The Norwegian artist also painted a smaller motif on a door, which is still part of this series.
This piece is right next to the house of the family that hosted me this week, so it was the first thing I saw every morning when I woke up. What a sweet way to start the day!
Apart from the artworks, many more things happened during the festival. Some of them are captured in the vlog, while others simply unfolded without me managing to get them on camera.
Among my favorite moments were the presentation of the book “100 Luoghi del Contemporaneo in Italia” by Nicolas Ballario, which includes Civitacampomarano alongside prestigious contemporary art institutions in our country like the Venice Biennale and the Castello di Rivoli, the poetry and photography workshops and, most importantly, the warm reception from the locals.
It was heartwarming to reunite with the people I had grown fond of last year, to feel their palpable enthusiasm for the festival, and to witness their interactions with the artists.
The villagers, who once faced the prospect of their town fading into obscurity, have embraced the CVTà Street Fest with open arms. They have become active participants, helping to transform Civitacampomarano into a must-visit destination for art lovers in Italy. The pride the villagers feel in seeing their town celebrated alongside prestigious contemporary art institutions underscores the unique charm of Civitacampomarano. Their involvement goes beyond mere appreciation—they are integral to the festival’s success.
One of the most moving aspects of this year’s festival was seeing the genuine joy on the villagers’ faces when Alice Pasquini returned to paint in Civitacampomarano after four years.
Her presence on the village walls felt like a homecoming, sparking happiness and a sense of continuity within the community. This deep connection to street art has brought a renewed sense of purpose and community spirit to Civitacampomarano. The once-quiet village now buzzes with excitement and anticipation each year before the festival week, while the street art tours inspired by the festival continue to attract visitors throughout the year.
This small village at the heart of Molise, a region often associated with phrases like “Molisn’t” or “Italy’s never-never land,” has proven itself to be a place of real and profound cultural significance. The transformation of Civitacampomarano through the festival not only highlights the resilience of its people but also challenges the notion that Molise “doesn’t exist,” standing as a powerful testament to how street art can revitalize communities, preserve cultural heritage, and redefine our understanding of overlooked places.
Civitacampomarano Street Art Map: Where to find the murals?
Find these, and many more, murals in my google map of Civitacampomarano!
