I had a dream, and I can say that I have made it a reality. Palazzo Luce is a space that conveys a sense of utopia, a place created to be visited and shared. It has deep historical roots, built as a residence for the Counts of Lecce in the 14th century, but today it establishes a dialogue with the contemporary world. Architecture, design and art, seen as a total artwork: a labyrinth that would have appealed to Borges. Every time you come here, possible new pathways are revealed. The centuries have formed a maze of passages, vaulted ceilings, staircases and halls – a magical puzzle that constantly displays new faces. The director is the boundless sea of light that bathes and brightens everything, a gentle element that flows, pulsates, caresses, modulated like a voice, shifting in a few seconds from whispered tones to glorious singing. Gian Maria Tosatti, an artist who is a friend of Palazzo Luce, has said that we should be the safekeepers of beautiful places. I like the term safekeeping, which is related to the theme of responsibility. I feel a responsibility to this place and the examples of art and design it contains. They are like guests, presences that speak to us, call us. Their guardians should support them, listen to them, endow them with ulterior meaning. The loveliest definition of Palazzo Luce is not of my invention, but comes from another friend and artist who has worked with us, Antonio Marras:
To cross the threshold
to get lost in a labyrinth
following the pathways
of your dreams