Permanent Exhibition Curator at the Municipal Library
When the Municipality of Alì Terme entrusted me with the design of a permanent exhibition dedicated to Stefano D’Arrigo, I immediately realized it wouldn’t be an ordinary assignment. D’Arrigo was a reserved author, difficult to interview, marked by a complex family history and a mysterious relationship with his own biography.
The real challenge?
Discovering and telling the story of the man behind the author.
Amidst lost documents—destroyed archives at the University of Messina, elusive details—the research turned into a small investigation: what was his real degree? No official trace… until his military record revealed the truth: D’Arrigo had graduated in Pedagogy, not Literature as reported by Treccani.
This discovery allowed me not only to correct the entry in the national encyclopedia but also to leave a mark that, at least for a while, will outlast administrations and time.
This exhibition taught me that attention to detail is not just a quirk: it’s the key to bringing hidden stories to light.
From digital restoration of letters and photographs to the creation of all graphic materials—posters, roll-ups, plaques, leaflets—every element was a piece of a story that goes beyond the surface.
Lesson learned:
“Surround yourself with a passionate team, dig deep, doubt, verify: every author is more interesting than they seem—if someone dares to look. And remember: the invisible work is often the most precious.”
Skills gained:
- Digital restoration of documents and photographs
- Permanent exhibitions and exhibition design
- Brand identity for cultural events
- Cultural project management
- Collection and coordination of historical and bibliographic materials
- Museum storytelling and visual narration
- Digitization of epistolary archives
- Fact-checking and updating for academic publications