The Milky Way 07

The seventh edition of “The Milky Way”, a fundraising exhibition organised by Pianoterra ETS with the support of the Beta Foundation and curated by Damiana Leoni, takes place on 25 January 2025. For the first time, the project arrives in Tuscany, hosted by Galleria Continua in San Gimignano.

The theme of this edition emerges from a question: Where am I? This inquiry reflects the disorientation felt when entering unfamiliar places or circumstances—a fleeting experience for some but a persistent state for others, marked by a sense of disconnection and non-belonging.

Pianoterra explains, “This disorientation is something we often observe in the expressions and movements of those who come through our doors. Our first act of care is to acknowledge and recognise it: the intricate map of unmet needs and untapped resources that shapes the paths leading them to us. Identifying these personal histories enables us to offer not escape routes, but tools—compasses—to help people navigate their lives. Each day, this approach compels us to look beyond material needs and consider equally the unspoken, overshadowed by more urgent necessities.”

Artists were invited to select a work reflecting this sense of disorientation. Over 40 artists responded, including: Alberte Agerskov, Ai Weiwei, Massimo Bartolini, Pascale Birchler, Barbana Bojadzi, Carlota Bulgari, Letizia Cariello, Loris Cecchini, Costanza Chia, Alba Clemente, Michelangelo Consani, Ala D’Amico, Bianca D’Ascanio, Jonathas De Andrade, Matt Dillon, Luca Federico Ferrero, Carlos Garaicoa, Shilpa Gupta, Camille Henrot, Priya Kishore, Andrea Mauti, Sabrina Mezzaqui, Seboo Migone, Rudi Ninov, Hans Op De Beeck, Ornaghi & Prestinari, Giovanni Ozzola, Valentina Palazzari, Giandomenico Pellizzi, Arcangelo Sassolino, Manuela Sedmach, Serse, Bernardo Siciliano, Nina Silverberg, Marta Spagnoli, Tommaso Spazzini Villa, Pascale Marthine Tayou, Eugenio Tibaldi, Giorgio Van Meerwijk, and Alejandra Varela Perera.

Proceeds from the exhibition support Pianoterra ETS initiatives for vulnerable families. Specifically, funds will contribute to creating two play areas in a new community space for families opening in Naples in 2025. These spaces will host high-quality educational activities for children during their critical first 1,000 days of life.

The seventh edition of The Milky Way is under the patronage of the Royal Embassy of Denmark.