Travel around the world with Countless Cities
The Biennial of the Cities of the world.
What's on
"Varanasi: A Journey into the Infinite"
Agrigento, Villa Genuardi, OPENING December 14th at 7:00 PM
New Cities, built from scratch:
ASTANA - FOREST CITY - NUSANTARA - SONGDO - THE LINE
Aragona Auditorium Incompiuto OPENING December 15th at 12 PM
We believe necessary for artists and exhibitions to become nomads and to cross frontiers both physically and mentally. Overcoming national borders, allow languages and cultures to spread in all directions, to widen the horizon of translation skills.
During its three editions, the Biennale has touched on protest movements in the London suburbs about gentrification-related problems, but also those of students in Hong Kong, and farmers of New Delhi. We have talked about complex places like the “Garbage City” of Cairo, the “Villas Miseria” favelas in Buenos Aires, or “Guapira II” in São Paulo, and we have proposed redeeming places such as “Fuerte Cultural Park” in Caracas or “Burj El Murr” in Beirut. We have been nourished by the cultural activism of Lyra Aoko and Michael Soi in Nairobi, Nana Zaalishvili in Tbilisi, Ali Matay in Izmir, Erika Linenfelser in Detroit, and Corben Mudjandi in Jabiru, together with numerous other artists, curators, and creatives from all over the world.
“Countless Cities” has also become a great event that brings hundreds of artists, architects, and curators to Sicily every two years, as well as a few hundred thousand visitors. This splendid opportunity promotes intercultural understanding and dialogue between different urban communities, breaking down barriers and prejudices, promotes greater interaction and connection between people from different backgrounds, and strengthens networks and collaborations between municipalities, diplomatic missions, cultural institutions, artists, organizations and research institutes on a global level. These partnerships often last over time and lead to further shared projects and initiatives. Moreover, the Biennale has become a great attraction for tourists and visitors interested in culture and the future of cities, generating important economic benefits for Favara and, today, also Mazzarino, contributing to an increase in their prestige and international visibility.
Past editions
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2023
Is there an ideal city? This profound question likely inspired architect Paolo Soleri to design and build Arcosanti, a visionary urban experiment in the Arizona desert. Similarly, it drove Pastor Tullio Vinay of the Waldensian Community to establish Monte degli Ulivi in Riesi, a center for social and cultural renewal in Sicily. Both projects embody the search for a harmonious balance between human habitation and the environment, offering alternative models of community that challenge conventional urban planning
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2021
Shifting the axis of research from the state dimension to that of cities means opting for a more human approach. It means embracing an idea of design that provides concrete solutions to improve the living conditions of people within urban spaces, across all latitudes, by fostering inclusivity and sustainability. This approach sows dreams, hopes, and the desire to act, encouraging communities to reimagine their environments. By focusing on cities, we address challenges at a scale that directly impacts people's daily lives, promoting a future where urban spaces are not just functional, but also vibrant and equitable
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2019
We portrayed the Africa that was not commonly depicted—the Africa of the new generations, of new forms of leadership and governance, of sustainable development. It was more necessary than ever to propose alternative models to Matteo Salvini's policies; we were absolutely against the politics of fear and firm advocates of the importance of building and maintaining international political, diplomatic, and cultural relations. Furthermore, quite frankly, we had had enough of the stereotypical narrative of Africa as a place of war, famine, and calamity."