Staying on the margin is the position chosen by Alessandro Quaranta to observe the life of a nomadic camp on the outskirts of Turin and to come into contact with its inhabitants. At the Milanese space of Careof, the young artist presents a project that began in 2002 through the regular attendance of the families living in the rest area on Strada Arrivore.

Investigating the complex relationship between Roma and gagiò—that is, someone who does not belong to the community—is among Quaranta’s primary intentions. Gagiò is the word – the artist explains – that the Roma I know use when I visit them, to refer to me, to my person. From this less privileged position as a ‘foreigner,’ I conducted my research. Aware of my non-belonging, I tried to work on the distance that distinguishes Roma culture from gagé culture.

From the very beginning of the project, I was clearly intent on highlighting that distance, in order to arrive at a possible overturning of cultural frameworks that are rarely questioned. I was fascinated by the idea of a game capable of inverting our spatial conceptions, bringing to the periphery what is at the center, and vice versa.

Alessandro Quaranta’s project consists of installations, photographs, and a website. Through a slow and gradual process, the artist reflects on the concepts of home, relationship, journey, ritual, hospitality, and family.