Sunday, May 18, 2025, Fondazione Merz in Turin will host an evening of dialogue and exchange dedicated to Viaggio in Sicilia, the nomadic artist residency program promoted for over twenty years by Planeta. The event will be an opportunity to present to the public the book Coppe di stelle nel cerchio del sole, dedicated to the ninth edition of the project, and to explore the deep connections between contemporary art, landscape, and memory.

The evening will also include a discussion on the theme of Orientalism and the longstanding collaboration between Planeta and Fondazione Merz. Speakers will include Davide Quadrio, Director of the MAO Museum of Oriental Art in Turin, along with artists and curators involved in the residency.

During the event, the name of the artist selected for the next edition of Viaggio in Sicilia will be announced, along with the presentation of the concert featuring the finalists of the music section of the Mario Merz Prize, scheduled for June 29, 2025, in Sambuca di Sicilia.

Part of the Salone Internazionale del Libro di Torino – OFF program, the event will begin at 7:00 PM at the Fondazione Merz and will feature Beatrice Merz, Valentina Bruschi, Vito Planeta, Evelina De Castro, Davide Quadrio, Ottavia Casagrande, and Chiara Barzini.

The book brings together the reflections of artists and intellectuals who took part in the 2021 residency, which culminated in the exhibition held in 2022 at Palazzo Abatellis in Palermo. Published in 2023 and now presented to the public for the first time, the volume weaves together thoughts, critical essays, images, and impressions born from the experience. Contributors include Valentina Bruschi, Evelina De Castro, Vito Planeta, Valeria Sola, Benedetta Fasone, Chiara Barzini, and a visual essay by Matteo Buonomo. The book also features interviews with artists Bea Bonafini, Gili Lavy, Diego Miguel Mirabella, and Emiliano Maggi.

The evening will conclude with a Planeta wine toast.