Spaces and Artistic Creations

In addition to restoring and reworking some of his existing pieces within the space, the artist created a new intervention that brings attention to the relationships and gazes of the already present “Faces of Moltivolti.”
This site-specific work depicts a weave of faces, expressions, and souls that interact within a visual labyrinth. The artwork extends across walls, doors, and facades of the restaurant, reflecting the rich human landscape that converges at Moltivolti. Also by the same artist are the panels suspended from the ceiling, evoking the waves of the sea—interpreted as a crossroads of civilizations, a place of both physical and emotional passage.

Also by Igor Scalisi Palminteri are the panels suspended from the ceiling, evoking the waves of the sea—interpreted as a crossroads of civilizations, a place of both physical and emotional passage.
“The wind creates the waves; at Moltivolti, the waves create the wind,” jokes Johnny Zinna.
The installation is part of a unique ventilation system, carefully designed to recreate a pleasant and natural airflow—an ideal (and poetic) reproduction of a sea breeze.
If you’re curious to see it in action, just ask!

On this occasion, De Grandi created a luminous installation—a neon sign featuring one of his now-iconic phrases from the Dito Sinistro series—which, this time, reverses the meaning of a well-known Sicilian saying to reflect the spirit of solidarity and hospitality that defines Moltivolti.

The project plays with the old seafarer’s saying ‘at sea, there is no tavern,’” explains the artist, “a warning to sailors not to trust the sea, as it can suddenly turn hostile and dangerous.
Moltivolti, on the other hand, has long represented a safe haven in a hostile sea—a place of shelter, a space where people fight for the rights of all, especially the most vulnerable: migrants, those seeking help and protection. A harbor shielded from racism and discrimination. A tavern where difference and solidarity are shared among travelers of all kinds and nationalities—whether they’re journeying in search of a better life or simply to explore the world. A tavern in the middle of the sea.”

Gabriella Ciancimino’s painted intervention aims to narrate the story of certain migrant plants. The botanical and vegetal theme is deeply embedded in the artist’s research, which draws inspiration from a contemporary take on Sicilian Art Nouveau. She recently completed a significant project for Facebook’s Italian headquarters.
“In the canvases I Can’t Swim Without a Sky created for Moltivolti,” the artist explains, “I tell the stories of those who come from afar and arrive in places like Palermo, Lampedusa, Genoa, Venice, Barcelona, Marseille, New York, London—cities that, throughout history, have served as gateways for the migratory flow of both humans and plants.
My work explores the relationship between humans and plants as a fundamental element in the formation of landscapes—particularly how migratory movements of both are interconnected. I Can’t Swim Without a Sky focuses on the feeling of nomadism and the resulting sense of nostalgia from being both inside and outside national boundaries.
This piece is an invitation to reflect on how borders can be transformed into free zones, where diversity finds connection points—giving rise to the creation of a new, ecologically reshaped landscape. A landscape where boundaries are no longer dividing lines that fuel conflict among citizens, but rather spaces of dialogue and exchange between cultures.”

Laura Pitingaro is an independent artist from Veneto, now based in Palermo. She studied Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Verona, but her work also embraces contemporary practices like video art and performance, which she explored under the mentorship of Karel Appel, Anish Kapoor, and Gary Brackett.
As part of this collective project, she took on a particularly challenging task: reimagining and redefining a controversial and overlooked space—the restroom. With this intervention, her goal was to transport the visitor into an “other” kind of space, playing with themes of imagination and survival within the environment.
“When I was asked to give a new identity to the toilet, I thought about what I could do to truly transform that space,” the artist explains. “I wanted to change it completely, and I started with color. Bringing blue into a bathroom means seeing something else in that space. I chose clouds as the subject—an element that is light, irregular, and airy—and we used pearlescent acrylic paint.”
A crucial part of the project was the lighting. “I added directional spotlights aimed directly at the painted subject, to create a sense of wonder. The light makes the clouds emerge from the blue background with an almost three-dimensional effect, thanks to the way it refracts off the acrylic surface. I like to think that even for just a moment, anyone who steps into that room can feel transported somewhere else—into a different, unexpected place: the Clean Clouds, which gives the work its title

Rights are the map of the human being. The freedom to move is one of the fundamental rights.
This map represents the desire of all human beings to move across the world to fulfill their dreams. Each thread is the freedom every person has to self-determine. Each thread is the possibility to follow one’s own nature. Each thread is the opportunity for change—not only for each individual, but above all for humanity as a whole. Take your thread, start from the place where you were born, and connect it to the place in the world where you would like to live.