Presentation by Ilaria Lia

There are two main reasons why Luigi Sergi, with his Casa dell’Arte, has sparked a small revolution within the village of Presicce. The first is tied to his personal story—the fulfillment of a promise he made to his father many years ago. As a young student, he left his hometown to pursue an education and carve out a role for himself in the art world, promising that one day he would return. And so he did. Throughout all these years, he never forgot his word, and even though his father is no longer here, he knows he would have been proud. The second reason is that, in a southern town where young people leave with the awareness that they may never return, Luigi Sergi chose to go against the tide. He could have invested in Novara, where he lives and works permanently, but with his decision, he demonstrated great generosity and gratitude toward his birthplace. For his Casa dell’Arte, he chose a home in the heart of Presicce, on the town’s oldest street—a road that, metaphorically, also connects the North, where he lives, with the South, where his roots lie. Luigi Sergi deserves recognition for believing in his dreams and for his tireless commitment to spreading art and a love for it. Moreover, he has shown a deep appreciation for young talents, seeing himself in them and making his space available for new exhibitions and collective shows. Thanks to his vision—as a catalyst for beauty and growth—we have witnessed a small yet significant revolution. Casa dell’Arte is not just his exhibition space but a beacon of beauty and hope, a place where ideas meet, and the soul finds inspiration. Because, in the end, art has the power not only to transform spaces but also to change people, offering new perspectives and filling us with wonder.