SUM Circular Tales

This year, the spaces of the Symposium are enriched by the presence of several artisans from Procida who, through the creative reuse of materials, give tangible form to the principles of the circular economy. An opportunity to highlight not only sustainability, but also the network of small local realities composed of artisans and artists who preserve knowledge, techniques, and contemporary visions. The conference bags have also been reimagined through a lens of sustainability and creative reuse: each bag has been crafted by recovering and enhancing fragments of saris from Bangladesh, transforming fabrics rich in history, color, and tradition into unique objects.

We have titled this section “SUM Circular Tales. Craftsmanship and Creative Reuse within the Symposium Spaces”, with the intention of showcasing the transformative potential of craftsmanship and reuse practices, bringing together tradition, innovation, and sustainability within the spaces of the SUM Symposium.

ARTISTIC SET UP / BOTTEGA D’ARTE T2 di Michele Costagliola di Fiore

We have chosen to entrust the installation design of Palazzo d’Avalos to Michele Costagliola di Fiore, an artisanal artist from Procida who represents an authentic expression of a territory profoundly shaped by its relationship with the sea and its enduring traditions.
Within his evocative creative space, the T2 Bottega d’Arte in Chiaiolella, he has developed over the years a distinctive artistic practice grounded in the reuse and transformation of materials.
Conceived as a laboratory of experimentation, this space gives new form to reclaimed elements — including boat timber, iron, bolts, and fishing nets — which are reinterpreted through a refined and contemporary visual language.
Entrusting the exhibition design of the symposium to this artistic practice reflects not only a commitment to sustainability, but also an intention to foreground a form of creative expression capable of articulating, with both poetic sensibility and material clarity, the core themes of this symposium.

t2 Bottega d’Arte / via Giovanni da Procida 94, Procida

LOCAL ARTISANS

This year the spaces of the Symposium are enriched by the presence of several artisans from Procida who, through the creative reuse of materials, give tangible form to the principles of the circular economy. An opportunity to highlight not only sustainability, but also the fabric of local small-scale realities, composed of artisans and artists who preserve knowledge and contemporary perspectives.
In addition to Michele of T2 Bottega d’Arte, participants will have the opportunity to meet Tiziana Tedisco, a fashion stylist from Procida, who creates unique bags by repurposing cushions, curtains, and other discarded textiles, transforming them into objects of strong aesthetic value. Also featured are the creations of Annamaria Quadretti, the creative force behind “Fate a pois”, who, with refined craftsmanship, brings new life to reclaimed wood fragments. These artisans and their creations can be discovered and purchased within the conference venue, or by visiting their workshops and taking home an authentic piece of Procida.

Fate a Pois via Roma 78, Procida / Tiziana Tedisco via M. Chiaiolella 36, Procida

CONFERENCE BAGS

This year, the Symposium bags have been re-envisioned in alignment with the principles of the circular economy that underpin our event, with particular emphasis on textile waste prevention and the reuse of materials.
The bags have been produced within the framework of the Prokritee project, an initiative dedicated to the recovery and valorisation of traditional textiles, particularly saris, which are transformed into new functional artefacts.
This approach not only contributes to waste reduction, but also preserves the emotional and symbolic significance of fabrics, often intertwined with personal and familial histories.
When saris are no longer suitable for use as garments, they are reconfigured into functional and decorative objects, such as the bags accompanying this edition of SUM.
Each bag is a unique piece, distinguished by the richness and diversity of its co-lours, textures, and compositions — a tangible expression of how sustainability, cultural heritage, and craftsmanship can converge to generate value.

For further information on the project please visit: www.prokritee.com

THE MYSTERIES

The Procession of the Mysteries of Procida is one of the most distinctive and meaningful events on the island of Procida. It takes place on Good Friday and reenacts the Passion of Christ through a long procession of scenic groups known as the “Mysteries”.
Their preparation lasts about two months and involves the entire population, from adults and children to elderly residents. It is a shared and participatory period, in which the creation of the scenes becomes an opportunity for gathering, relationships, and the transmission of traditions across generations.
A key aspect of the Mysteries is the use of reclaimed materials — wood, cardboard, fabrics, and discarded objects — which are transformed through collective craftsmanship into scenographic structures of great symbolic value.
In this spirit, some of the Mystery sculptures have been recovered and included in the exhibition set up for this conference on the circular economy, creating a bridge between tradition and innovation.