The first edition of Kepos Fest arrives in Putignano

Stories, sounds and flavours of the author: a meeting between art and conviviality, which finds its founding nucleus in literature but which also opens up to music and the visual arts, without forgetting the food and wine component, an important identifying feature of the Apulian territory. All this is Kepos Fest , the cultural festival organized and promoted by the association Il Tassello Mancante , with the artistic direction of Mario Valentino and which will take place from June 26 to July 1 in Putignano , inside the Garden of the same association (Via Dante n.60) and in the Spazio Eventi delle Cantine Aiello (strada comunale Cacciottoli n. 3 prov. per Conversano) on June 29. Tickets available on the Ticketone circuit.

More than ten literary meetings in the company of illustrious guests from the national cultural and artistic scene, a lectio magistralis, four major concerts, two exhibitions . These are the numbers of the first edition of a festival that aims to represent a new recurring event in the Apulian cultural scene. All of this, according to a concept of sharing and participation, which becomes a celebration of storytelling, music and taste through an immersive and refined experience . The name Kepos – from the Greek “garden” – in fact recalls a place of meeting and culture, where nature and creativity intertwine harmoniously. Six evenings , therefore, in which the storytelling of the latest literary productions of the guests will be followed by the music of great artists of Italian songwriting and which will be further embellished by the exhibition of the painting exhibitions of two excellent Apulian artists : Michele Volpicella from Bari and Filly Fiordaliso from Monopoli.

THE PROGRAM

The program kicks off on Thursday 26 June at 7:00 pm with the presentation of the book "Il bambino del carillon. Il pianeta della musica" (Ed. Salani) by Maestro Franco Mussida , guitarist, composer and singer-songwriter from Milan, as well as one of the founders of Premiata Forneria Marconi, for which he has signed many successes including the famous Impressioni di settembre. The artistic director of the Kepos Fest, Mario Valentino, will be in conversation with Mussida. The opening night will continue at 8:15 pm with the philosopher and essayist Umberto Galimberti , who will give the public his lectio magistralis entitled "L'etica del viandante" taken from the essay of the same name published by Feltrinelli. Following this, space for great music with the concert entitled Napoli e Jazz by Danilo Rea and Peppe Servillo .

Friday 27 June the evening opens at 7:00 pm with the presentation of the essay “Il coraggio del male” (Ed. Bonfirraro) by the deputy public prosecutor in Catania and member of the District Anti-Mafia Directorate, Sebastiano Ardita . The lawyers Mario Malcangi and Giuseppe Valentino will be in conversation with him. Next up will be the Honorable Claudio Martelli , journalist and former member of the European Parliament, Minister of Justice and Vice President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic. On stage with him, to present the essay entitled “ Il merito. Il bisogno e il grande tumulto” (Ed. La nave di Teseo), the journalist Massimo Bianco and the lawyer Vincenzo Angelini De Miccolis. The evening will continue at 9:15 pm with the concert of the singer-songwriter from Crotone Sergio Cammariere , with special guest Giovanna Famulari .

The third evening, Saturday 28 June , will see on stage at 7:00 pm the Rai journalist Francesco Giorgino, who will present to the public “Sociology of journalism” , the essay (Ed. Mondadori Università) which he will discuss with the director of the Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, Mimmo Mazza. At 8:15 pm it will be the turn of the Sicilian director, screenwriter and writer Roberto Andò , who will present his new novel “Il coccologe di Palermo” (Ed. La nave di Teseo) in the company of Miriam Giannuzzi. The evening ends with music, at 9:15 pm, with the concert of the Neapolitan singer-songwriter Joe Barbieri .

On Sunday 29 June the event will exceptionally move to the Spazio Eventi delle Cantine Aiello (Strada comunale Cacciottoli n.3, provincial road to Conversano). Here we will look beyond Italy thanks to the participation in the Kepos Fest of two great guests whose work as journalistic storytellers has represented, for decades, a window on the British and American world: the fourth evening will in fact start at 19.00 with the journalist Antonio Caprarica , who for about 15 years was a Rai correspondent from London and who, together with the journalist Annalisa Tatarella, will present his latest essay entitled “Katy e la maledizione dei Galles” (Ed. Sperling & Kupfer). At 20.15 it will be the turn of the Italian-American journalist and presenter Alan Friedman who will talk with the journalist Anna Puricella to present his book “La fine dell'impero Americano” (Ed. La Nave di Teseo). The evening will close with a concert by the Roman singer-songwriter Chiara Civello .

Three guests are scheduled for the evening of Monday 30 June , which will once again be hosted in the Garden of the Il Tassello Mancante Association: at 7:00 pm, the Apulian radio and television host Savino Zaba will present his book dedicated to the centenary of the radio entitled “Cent'anni di compagnia – La radio 1924-2024” (Ed. Rai Libri), moderated by the journalist Alessandra Lofino. The presentation will be followed by that of the essay “Resurrezione” (Ed. Mondadori) by the Venetian philosopher, writer and professor of Aesthetics Stefano Zecchi , with whom the journalist Enzo Quarto will dialogue. The evening will close with Albano Carrisi with the presentation of his autobiography entitled “Il sole dentro” (Ed. Mondadori). The artistic director of the festival, Mario Valentino, will dialogue with the singer-songwriter from Salento.

The final evening, Tuesday 1st July , starts at 7.30 pm with Giuliano Volpe , full professor of Archaeology at the University of Bari “Aldo Moro” who, moderated by the journalist Serena Manieri, will present his latest literary work entitled “Vulpis in Fundo – notes, reflections and ideas for archaeology” (Ed. Edipuglia). Following, on the occasion of the centenary of the birth of the Prosecutor Rocco Chinnici, creator of the anti-mafia pool made operational by Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino and assassinated in the context of the mafia massacres in Sicily in the 80s and 90s, the artistic director Mario Valentino together with the Chief Prosecutor of Bari Roberto Rossi, will dialogue with the magistrate and MEP Caterina Chinnici , daughter of Rocco and with the Carabinieri officer Alessandro Averna Chinnici , nephew of the magistrate and co-author of the book “L'Italia di Rocco Chinnici ” (Minerva edition).

The Festival's exhibitions

MICHELE VOLPICELLA – The concept of the exhibition

Sensitive urban landscapes, landscapes to defend and landscapes to build, in the centers and in the historic districts and in the suburbs. Fifty years after the Gubbio Charter we cannot forget that urban landscapes are not only made of stones and physicality, but also of living men: indeed, of society. Men need history and beauty (that is why we live better in the old districts), but also of spaces in which to be a society: in which to meet, exchange, frequent the near and the similar but also the distant and the different, the foreigner.

Michele Volpicella He acquired a degree in Painting & Visual Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bari. He furthered his artistic training at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bari. He attended the lessons of Hector Saunier director of the Atelier Contrepoint de Paris and of the Chinese master Zhang Huinan director of the Beijing Chinese Character and the City Calligraphy Institute, lessons that served to perfect his concept of balance and elegance. Described by critics as a subject with a realistic and marked chromatic sensitivity, for which his canvases tend to detach themselves from the usual figuration, acquiring value in the colors as in the same scripts rich in Nordic echoes, wrapped and suspended. in a silent atmosphere that we could define metaphysical. He is present in public and private collections throughout the world.

FILLY FIORDALISO – The concept of the exhibition

Filly Fiordaliso's art is oriented towards achieving beauty in which feelings and chromatisms prevail over any realistic reference. In her pictorial compositions, color is used as an emotional metaphor. The subtle tonal nuances of blue, yellow, pink, green and brown immerse the observer in a suggestive and sublime dimension. The meticulous observation of the vast natural expanses deeply inspires the artist and leads to the production of works exhibited in personal exhibitions on the themes of the sea, the sky and the earth. Currently, Filly's gaze is directed towards the night sky to establish an emotional dialogue, through signs and colors, with the moon. Painting is accompanied by photography through the development of existential themes.

Filly Fiordaliso was born in Ostuni in 1972, lives and works in Monopoli, trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Lecce in the Painting section and has exhibited on the national territory since 1991. She is a teacher of audiovisual and multimedia disciplines at the “Luigi Russo” Art High School in Monopoli.

"The Kepos event certainly represents an important point of arrival for the Tassello Mancante because it marks the leap in quality from the formula of single events to the formula of the Festival over several evenings - explains Senator Bruno Erroi , President of the Il Tassello Mancante Association - On the other hand, we feel very ready for this challenge, which will also be the starting point for even more important objectives, to be achieved with the usual professionalism, but always keeping our feet on the ground as befits a non-profit association. We look forward to seeing you with open arms at the Festival evenings: you will share with us the passion for great journalism and excellent music".