Past Exhibition/ 07.-11.05.2025
Earlier this month, the Centrala team travelled to Naples to install and open our exhibition Nostalgia ‘n’ Exploitation, a new commission by artist Chris Costa developed in response to research from the I-CLAIM project. Read the full exhibition description here.
Working in collaboration with the team at Puntozero Valeria Apicella Gallery, the space was transformed over several days, installing photographic and video works that reflect on migration, care work, and the politics of visibility, with a focus on Polish women living and working in Southern Italy. This marked the second in our series of I-CLAIM exhibitions across Europe, each rooted in local context and research.
We celebrated the opening of the exhibition on 9th May with a warm and well-attended event that brought together local audiences, artists, activists, and community members. The evening featured a talk from Chris Costa, offering insight into their process and reflecting on the ethical challenges of representing migrant experiences through art. This led to meaningful conversations around storytelling, responsibility, and the role of art in social justice.
In the days that followed, we hosted a workshop in partnership with ActionAid, bringing together participants to explore questions of representation, irregularity, and shared experience. These discussions allowed us to present key findings from the I-CLAIM research and share how Centrala approaches curating and commissioning work in ways that centre community and care.
Throughout our time in Naples, we had the opportunity to connect with the local artistic community, sharing our values, our methods, and learning more about how migration and cultural work intersect in the Neapolitan context. These exchanges were invaluable, helping us to further root our European-wide work in local dialogue and solidarity.
We were proud to see the exhibition featured in two prominent Italian newspapers. Corriere del Mezzogiorno, the southern edition of Corriere della Sera, one of Italy’s most respected national dailies, highlighted the exhibition’s focus on the intersection of art and migration, and La Repubblica, one of Italy’s largest and most influential newspapers, published a detailed piece in its immigration and solidarity section, drawing attention to the racism and invisibility faced by Polish domestic workers in Italy and the power of Costa’s work to shed light on these realities. These features not only extended the reach of the project but also affirmed the urgency and resonance of the themes we’re working with as part of I-CLAIM.
We are grateful to our partners in Naples and to everyone who joined us throughout the week. This exhibition was not only about sharing new work but it was about building connections, reflecting critically on migration in Europe, and continuing to develop more ethical, collaborative ways of working across borders.
Next stop: Warsaw.
