Maria Luigia Gioffrè and Carlos Noronha da Feio in residence at Kunstfort Vijfhuizen, produced and supported by Creative Court and Herengracht401

In January – February 2025, artists Maria Luigia Gioffrè and Carlos Noronha da Feio undertook a residency hosted by Creative Court at Kunstfort Vijfhuizen, a former military heritage site near Amsterdam, now operating as a contemporary art space with a distinct ecological context. The development of the residency content was supported by Herengracht 401 (H401).

During their residency, the artists explored a series of interconnected themes in response to CDCD: The concept of “waiting for wars”; Calabrian mourning songs and traditional dance movements; Colonial heritage across Europe; Ecological narratives, specifically the cultural history of tulips in the Netherlands and their origins in the Ottoman Empire.

Maria Luigia Gioffrè led a participatory workshop that brought together local community members, Kunstfort collaborators, H401 interns researching CDCD for their MA studies, and a guest artist whose contribution offered valuable perspectives on colonial legacies. The residency culminated in a performance developed through this collective process. In addition, both artists held a public conversation to share their approaches and open up dialogue around the themes explored.

Carlos Noronha da Feio, in collaboration with Kunstfort, is currently developing a series of community-based workshops that will unfold later in the year. These will contribute to the creation of a durational artwork initiated during the residency period.