DSCENE Magazine and D’Puglia welcomed a group of international artists to Castro, a cliffside town on Puglia’s Adriatic coast, throughout May. The residency, called Go Where the Wind Takes You, encouraged artists to experience the region’s daily life, stories, and textures firsthand. Instead of following a set plan, the artists let the environment and local culture guide their creative process. Southern Italy served as both inspiration and workspace, shaping the direction of each artist’s work.
Creating Puglia, Unframed
The artists’ time in Puglia will culminate in Puglia, Unframed, a new guide scheduled for release in December during Art Basel Miami. This project does not resemble a typical travel guide. Instead, it offers a visual and emotional map of the region, shaped by the perspectives of artists who arrived with no fixed agenda. Each participant responded to Puglia in their own way, producing work across photography, drawing, writing, and installation. Their creations reflect a region that must be experienced to be understood, one that is felt as much as it is seen.
A Month of Discovery
During the four-week residency, the artists explored Pugliese cities and villages. They wandered through Lecce’s ornate streets, admired the limestone cliffs of Otranto, and visited bustling local markets. Their days included climbing olive-covered hills, cooking with local families, and sharing conversations with farmers, poets, and fishermen. The pace of life slowed, shaped by nature and intuition. The wind became both a literal and symbolic guide, echoing the residency’s name and philosophy.
Launching on the Global Stage
The results of this creative immersion will debut in December, when Puglia, Unframed launches as a limited-edition print volume and a global exhibition. The artists’ work will first appear in a group show alongside Art Basel Miami. Afterward, the exhibition will travel to cities such as New York, Paris, Belgrade, and Milan. Each location will continue the conversation between place, memory, and artistic practice, allowing the project’s influence to reach far beyond the Italian coast.
Expanding the Dialogue at Sea
The residency’s momentum didn’t stop on land. D’Puglia extended the project onto the deck of Evrima, partnering with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Experience of a Lifetime. Fresh from a month in Southern Italy, D’Puglia brought its vision to the sea, working with partners like Imperial Moto, Parea, Dolce & Gabbana, and Dame Helen Mirren. A collaboration with Save the Olives brought attention to the urgent need to protect Puglia’s ancient olive trees, turning the yacht into a space for cultural dialogue and advocacy.
Redefining Travel and Artistic Exchange
DSCENE and D’Puglia have built a platform that moves away from standard tourism, favoring slow exploration, careful observation, and cultural exchange. Go Where the Wind Takes You invites artists and audiences alike to let places shape them, rather than the other way around. The project serves as a reminder that art often begins with openness and a willingness to be moved by new experiences.
Photographer Federica Livia documented the residency, capturing moments of connection, reflection, and creative growth throughout May. Her images reveal the quiet intensity and spontaneous beauty that defined the DSCENE x D’Puglia experience, preserving the spirit of the project.
