Marinella Senatore for the Dior Cruise 2021 Show in Lecce, Italy

That time of the year has arrived, and so have the shorter days and darker afternoons. In this setting, Christmas lights animate our piazze and alleys, making the atmosphere warmer.

Inspired by luminaries used in religious feasts in Southern Italy and the sense of community such events generate, versatile artist Marinella Senatore creates installations with a participative and interactive dimension to them.

Her colourful background in the cinema industry and in the performing arts generate a varied oeuvre whose common denominator is a strong participative dimension. Senatore plays an active role in every project she conceives, thus not identifying herself as a performer but rather as an activator of energy enclosed in the participants.

In possibly every description and interview of Marinella Senatore, the word energy is mentioned; her luminaries are indeed catalysts of energy, temporary architectures that carve out spaces for socialisation.

One of the most eloquent examples of the sense of community she fosters is embedded in the installation realised for the Maison Dior Cruise in Lecce this past summer.

“In this particular period, I sought to give a new dimension to collective work. Despite the drawbacks of social-distancing, I wanted to instill strength and imagination into the perspectives of people’s daily life.”

— Marinella Senatore

Far from just serving the luxury niche, Senatore succeeded in involving the local population on different levels: not only did she boost a process of growth after the first lockdown by engaging local craftsmen, musicians and performers, but she also managed to create a poetical atmosphere in which the community as a whole eagerly took part in.

On top of that, her installation proved successful because it interacted harmoniously with the local territory, creating an interesting dialogue with the Baroque architecture of the city.

These installations, true bursts of energy, also comprise written texts, which do not bear a precise meaning but are instead hints to be internalised by the people.

“We Raise By Lifting Others”, appearing on two of her latest installations, is also the name of the Exhibition currently on view at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence until February 9th. With her ever-present interest in exploring social spaces and dynamics, these words speak louder than ever considering the dimension of social distancing and isolation now hindering the life of the community.

Her active engagement in community building has proved seminal not only during this period, but also in the previous years. The circumstances we live in helped highlight the positive impact artists working on the field like Senatore have, thus suggesting the benefit of similar approaches.

Marinella Senatore: We Rise By Lifting Others

That time of the year has arrived, and so have the shorter days and darker afternoons. In this setting, Christmas lights animate our piazze and alleys, making the atmosphere warmer.

Inspired by luminaries used in religious feasts in Southern Italy and the sense of community such events generate, versatile artist Marinella Senatore creates installations with a participative and interactive dimension to them.

In possibly every description and interview of Marinella Senatore, the word energy is mentioned; her luminaries are indeed catalysts of energy, temporary architectures that carve out spaces for socialisation.

One of the most eloquent examples of the sense of community she fosters is embedded in the installation realised for the Maison Dior Cruise in Lecce this past summer.

On top of that, her installation proved successful because it interacted harmoniously with the local territory, creating an interesting dialogue with the Baroque architecture of the city.

These installations, true bursts of energy, also comprise written texts, which do not bear a precise meaning but are instead hints to be internalised by the people.

Her active engagement in community building has proved seminal not only during this period, but also in the previous years. The circumstances we live in helped highlight the positive impact artists working on the field like Senatore have, thus suggesting the benefit of similar approaches.

Marinella Senatore’s “We Rise By Lifting Others” For Dior Cruise Show 2021