From September 19 to 29, 2026, the Spazio 57 gallery in Naples (at Via Chiatamone 57) will host *SIRENUSE*, an exhibition and cultural project conceived and curated by Maria Di Stasio and organized by the Athenae Artis Cultural Association. Visual arts, poetry, and performance converge in a collaborative project bringing together 38 artists and 42 poets, all invited to engage with one of the archetypes most deeply rooted in the history of Naples and the Mediterranean imagination: the Siren.
*SIRENUSE* stems from a desire to bring the myth into the present, moving beyond a purely iconographic interpretation. The Siren is not presented merely as a figure to be depicted, but as a question to be explored.
What remains of her myth today?
This question shapes a journey traversing themes of identity, memory, the body, desire, belonging, absence, and metamorphosis. The reference to Parthenope inevitably links the project to Naples—a city where the myth serves as both an origin story and a collective memory. Yet, Naples does not mark the boundaries of *SIRENUSE*; rather, it is the starting point from which the narrative opens up to the Mediterranean and to a broader, universal reflection on the contemporary human condition. Painting, sculpture, photography, video, and various forms of contemporary artistic inquiry make up the visual arts section. Alongside this, poetry creates a parallel path: 42 poetic voices convey diverse interpretations, memories, and sensibilities through the written word. Image and word are not intended to illustrate one another; instead, they meet within the same conceptual horizon while maintaining their respective autonomy.
Indeed, this very plurality is a central element of the curatorial approach.
"When I first began to envision *SIRENUSE*, I did not want to create a simple exhibition about the representation of the Siren. I was interested in understanding what this myth could still reveal in the present day." "I chose to connect different artistic languages and sensibilities without trying to make them alike. For me, curating SIRENUSE means charting a course among eighty voices without asking any of them to give up their own."
Maria Di Stasio, curator
The project was conceived and curated by Maria Di Stasio and organized by the Athenae Artis Cultural Association. Through SIRENUSE, the association continues its mission of promoting and showcasing contemporary artistic expressions, creating opportunities for dialogue among artists, authors, cultural professionals, and the public. Art critic and historian Mariangela Bognolo will also be involved in the project, offering critical insight into the visual arts section.
The second chapter of SIRENUSE will focus on the poetic word. The evening of September 26th will be led by poet and writer Ciro Cianni, who will guide the authors and the audience through the various poetic voices featured in the project. Performance art also plays a specific role in the curatorial structure of SIRENUSE. During the visual arts opening on September 19th at 5:30 PM, Simona Carbone will present *Mappe dell'istante* (Maps of the Instant), a performance in which anonymous thoughts, words, memories, and emotions shared by the audience enter the realm of artistic action. Visitors thus move beyond the role of mere observers, leaving their own mark on the narrative. On September 26th at 5:30 PM—the evening dedicated to poetry—Barbara Maresti’s poetic performance *Un cuore a metà* (A Heart in Halves) will be presented, performed by actress Chiara Pavoni.
Finally, SIRENUSE extends into the realm of publishing with the creation of two ISBN-registered catalogues: one dedicated to the visual arts and the other to poetry. These publications capture and preserve the project's dual nature; they were conceived not merely as event documentation, but as a lasting record designed to extend the project's journey beyond the duration of the exhibition itself. 38 artists, 42 poets, two languages, two publications, and a single narrative. SIRENUSE thus becomes a contemporary geography of myth: a place where image, word, and body traverse ancient memory to bring it into the present.
SIRENUSE INFORMATION
Visual Arts · Poetry · Performance September 19–29, 2026 Galleria Spazio 57, Via Chiatamone 57, Naples September 19, 5:30 PM: Visual Arts Opening featuring Mariangela Bognolo (art critic and historian) and the performance *Mappe dell'istante* (Maps of the Instant) by Simona Carbone
September 26, 5:30 PM: Poetry Opening – an evening directed by poet and writer Ciro Cianni, featuring the poetic performance *Un cuore a metà* (A Heart in Two) by Barbara Maresti with actress Chiara Pavoni
Conceived and curated by: Maria Di Stasio Organized by: Athenae Artis Cultural Association Two official ISBN-registered catalogues: Visual Arts Poetry