Marinella Senatore. We Rise By Rise by Lifting Others

First solo exhibition by the artist in Puglia

Curated by Raffaele Quattrone

29 May – 8 September 2026

Masseria Torre Maizza

From 29 May to 8 September 2026, Masseria Torre Maizza presents We Rise By Lifting Others, an artistic project by Marinella Senatore curated by Raffaele Quattrone.

The artist’s first solo exhibition in Puglia, We Rise By Lifting Others features six works installed throughout the property, transforming the Rocco Forte Hotels destination into a journey where light weaves together themes of community and collective memory.

THE THEME OF COMMUNITY | At the heart of the project is the work that gives the exhibition its title: We Rise By Lifting Others, the largest illuminated architectural installation ever created by the artist. Positioned at the entrance to the estate, the work acts as a solo voice welcoming guests into the masseria and, through its monumental scale, extends beyond the boundaries of the property to engage in dialogue with the surrounding territory and community.

“We Rise by Lifting Others speaks about solidarity, but also about interdependence and vulnerability. It reminds us that individual growth is never truly individual,” states Marinella Senatore.

“The installation creates a dialogue between inside and outside, between guests and the territory, transcending both physical and symbolic boundaries,” adds Raffaele Quattrone.

Like a chorus, the addition of five further works amplifies the experience, guiding visitors through an immersive journey staged within the former feeding trough area, now dedicated to conviviality and gathering.

THE THEME OF MEMORY | The theme of community resonates in unison with that of memory, through an authentic celebration of Puglia and its cultural heritage. Drawing on elements deeply rooted in the local culture — so enduring as to feel contemporary — We Rise by Lifting Others evokes traditions that can still be traced today and whose origins date back to the sixteenth century:

• the use of light as a trait d’union for popular festivities and collective rituals;

• the productive and landscape identity of the region, marked by the establishment of masserie and their surrounding olive groves.

We Rise by Lifting Others transcends a purely aesthetic dimension to become an experience of encounter, participation, and belonging within a context devoted to hospitality.

In the words of Olga Polizzi, co-founder of the group and Director of Design, the collaboration with Marinella Senatore reflects a deep affinity of values: Rocco Forte Hotels has always been committed to enhancing the cultural and social heritage of the destinations in which it operates, promoting an idea of hospitality grounded in authenticity, participation, and the value of shared moments — all elements that are central to the artist’s practice and to the project We Rise By Lifting Others.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Artist: Marinella SenatoreTitle: We Rise By Lifting OthersCurated by: Raffaele QuattroneProject realised in collaboration with: MazzoleniDates: 29 May – 8 September 2026Venue: Masseria Torre Maizza, Savelletri di Fasano, Brindisi

BIOGRAPHIES

Marinella Senatore

Born in Cava de’ Tirreni in 1977, Marinella Senatore is a multidisciplinary artist trained in music, visual arts, and cinema. Her practice is characterised by a strong collective and participatory dimension, combining aesthetic research and social engagement through installations, performances, and public-space interventions.

In 2012 she founded the School of Narrative Dance (SOND), a nomadic, free, and non-hierarchical school proposing an alternative educational model based on empowerment and self-education. Over more than ten years, SOND has developed projects in over 23 countries involving approximately eight million people.

Light is a central element of her research, understood as a narrative device and a tool for social cohesion. Her large-scale illuminated sculptures — handcrafted in Puglia and inspired by the Southern Italian tradition of luminarie — have been presented in museums, public spaces, and international festivals, including Art Unlimited at Art Basel and the Noor Riyadh.

Senatore’s works have been exhibited and commissioned by major international institutions including Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Centre Pompidou, Castello di Rivoli Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, Serpentine Gallery, Palais de Tokyo, MAXXI, Palazzo Strozzi, Kunsthaus Zürich, Museum der Moderne Salzburg, High Line New York, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and Berlinische Galerie.

Recently named Artist of the Year 2026 by the GNAMC in Rome, the artist has also participated in numerous international biennials, including the Venice Biennale and the São Paulo Biennial.

Raffaele Quattrone

Sociologist and contemporary art curator. His curatorial research explores the relationship between art, cultural imagination, collective memory, and social transformations, developing projects across cultural institutions, public spaces, and international hospitality contexts.

He has curated exhibitions and projects with international artists for museums, foundations, and institutions in Italy and abroad, collaborating in recent years with Rocco Forte Hotels on a series of site-specific interventions dedicated to the dialogue between contemporary art, territory, and local identity.

Masseria Torre Maizza

Located in the heart of the Itria Valley, Masseria Torre Maizza is an authentic sixteenth-century Apulian retreat surrounded by olive groves, vineyards, and almond trees. The hotel combines tradition with modern luxury, reflecting the simplicity and warmth of Puglian heritage.

Designed by Olga Polizzi, Director of Design at Rocco Forte Hotels, the interiors feature locally sourced materials in a palette of white, terracotta, and green, selected to create a serene and elegant atmosphere.

Guests can enjoy a refined selection of regional dishes at the Carosello Restaurant, Violetta Pool Bar, and Bougainville Bar. Nearby, the Lido Bambù beach club offers a private seaside escape complete with luxury services.