On the occasion of the presentation of the book “Attraversamenti. A Story in Prose and Poetry” by Roberta Melasecca and within the exhibition “Tratto da una storia vera” by Nicola Rotiroti, curated by Ludovica Palmieri and Massimo Scaringella, Kou Gallery presents the talk “Emotions, Feelings, and Thoughts in the Experience of Art”. Participants include Alberto D’Amico - artist and curator, Bruno Lo Turco - philosopher and professor of Indian religions and philosophies at La Sapienza, Roberta Melasecca - curator and author of the book, Francesca Perti - curator, and Nicola Rotiroti - artist. The discussion will be moderated by Massimiliano Padovan Di Benedetto, director of Kou Gallery.

The talk aims to explore the feelings and emotions arising from experiencing any work of art - ancient, modern, or contemporary - in its various forms of presentation and engagement. Through different perspectives, the discussion will address how thought systems (Western and Eastern) can shape our perception of art and how our emotional framework can influence the understanding of the aesthetic experience.

The talk is part of the Cross Love project, curated by Roberta Melasecca, which invites reflection on the multiple facets of love, interpreting various thematic lines and presenting different views of the classical triad of eros (ἔρως), agape (ἀγάπη), and philia (ϕιλία) through a contemporary societal lens. Attraversamenti. A Story in Prose and Poetry, published by Eretica Edizioni, narrates a story in prose and poetry that ends unhappily, yet affirms love as an indispensable part of life, in all its beauty and harshness. The narrative is structured like a Greek tragedy, with different parts - prologue, epilogue, intermezzo, parodos - presented non-sequentially, leaving the reader to reconstruct the story’s paths. The book also includes an illustration by Marcello Maltese, architect and artist, titled Conchiglia, evocative of the intimate sentiment permeating the verses.