Derek MF Di Fabio

Next Tuesday, 31st March, we continue with the collective reading of "Breath of Life" by Clarice Lispector. 🛸 Doors at 18:30–19:00, sharp start of the reading at 19:00. We read until we're tired, with breaks. Come as you are, snooze as you go. 🥦 I'll make a vegan soup, you're welcome to bring something to share. 💨 I host the reading in my shared studio in Neukölln, and all communication is in a Telegram group. Send me a message if you want to be added in and participate. Last time we read nearly to the middle, so this might be the last evening. Images: - the room is cozy and we are mostly on airplane mode on carpets and pillows - @__orshi @seigerecht @dylanspencerdavidson took some notes - drawing by @_vps_vps_

On Wednesday evening the 18th March, I want to gather some friends and new faces to read aloud "Breath of Life" by Clarice Lispector. We read in turns, whoever wants to read reads, and listeners are free to drift, draw, or just be present. I may bring some drawing materials and naps are welcome. It's a way to stay together in this darker and darker end of winter and to dive into an author I love, who keeps on giving. It will happen in my studio near Rathaus Neukölln, Berlin, there are few steps to access it. Doors open at 18.30 and close at 19, when we start. Breaks will happen and there may be a soup. Soft comfy carpets, bean bags and pillows are provided, chairs if needed. No formal discussion, not a reading group, we just read until we're tired. We may not finish the whole book, and another date will be decided. If you want to join, have feedback, or are just excited, DM me. All further communication will happen in a Telegram group. The image is a studio on fences, drawn on the island of Salina while I was hosted by @amanei_salina in 2024. After discovering some paintings by Clarice Lispector, I felt this drawing could be a fitting companion.

{english below} ombre di venti filtrano cesti è stato un breve workshop di @derekmfdf , con e ospitato da ৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ꩜ ﹌﹌ @_cnsss__ lo scorso ottobre a Palermo Durante il workshop si sono intrecciate piante dela zona con riflessioni sull’abolizionismo delle prigioni, sui conflitti personali e sociali e sulle politiche che regolano la terra. Hanno partecipato circa 12 persone e abbiamo intracciato tra le altre piante anche olmo, lentisco, olivo, edera e vite. Queste sono alcuni detyagli delle foto scattate per lo più a workshop concluso. 🌬️🪢💨 ombre di venti filtrano cesti (shadows of winds filter baskets) was a short workshop by @derekmfdf , with and hosted by ৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ꩜ ﹌﹌ @_cnsss__ last October in Palermo. Plants from the local area were woven together with reflections on prison abolition, personal and social conflicts, and the politics that govern land. About 12 people took part, and among the plants we interwove there were elm, mastic, olive, ivy, and vine. These are some photo details, mostly taken after the workshop had ended.

End of the year drop: I didn't share much BARK photos here, a performance of a choir on bike re-staged last March in Bologna. I'm working on my website this winter where you'll find more info, here below some credits :) Performers (2025): CH2, ercolealice, Helena Falabino (@hel_xyzt ), Norma Cicala (@normacicagrammi ), Pan, Sofia, Sun (@warmer.than.sun ). Vocal training: Francesco Venturi (@francesco__venturi ) Costumes: Canedicoda (@caned_icoda ), Dario Biancullo Whiteass(@dariobiancullo ), Matteo Brizio (@matt3.matt3 ), Gianni Giacummo / Tyraspol (@radio_tyraspol ) and me. Narrative Documentation: Dalia Maini (@shitshines Post-production: MINQ (@soundslikeminq ) Photos by Matteo Visentin (@visentinmatt ) Live streaming thanks to: Radio Neu (@neu_radio ) A special thanks to Caterina Molteni (@caterinamolteni ), the MAMbo team, Umberto Casadio (@umbertocasadio ), and Ivan Andres Saavedra Rosas (@ivan_saavedra_rosas ). Commissioned by @mambobologna and @artcitybologna 2025 Curated by @almanac_eu - where I presented the first version of the work in 2021.

"untitling matter from a confined nature that forces categorical identification" Reworked 2025 version performed few weeks ago thanks and with the participation of @alkminigousiari @leo.hugendubel @stellar__meris @soundslikeminq @iga_swiesciak @dylanspencerdavidson @mermasuelo Original photos by @laurafioriop <3

galline capovolte in balli di foglie Performance at @museomadre on October 4th, photographed by @amedeo_benestante From the hall up to the roof, the parade climbed vertically through the permanent collection, passing between grand and disused staircases. A rain of leaves, woven masks, and long braided lianas welcomed us and allowed more people to get dressed. Jumps holding hands on both sides, continuous and nearly forced laughter mingling with honks played by a wind piano. Thanks @eva.fabbris , @alberta_romano_ , @kobramulata , @marcvs.trxsh and @dariobiancullo More info, credits, and thanks in previous posts.

On Monday the 3rd, there will be a small reenactment of my work “untitling matter from a confined nature that forces categorical identification” (2022). [Edited:] Skalitzer Str. 133, 10999. Performance from 19:00. I’ll be joined by @alkminigousiari , @leo.hugendubel , @stellar__meris , @soundslikeminq , @iga_swiesciak , @dylanspencerdavidson and @mermasuelo This performance marked the closing of my studies at @dutchartinstitute and was hosted at @centrale_fies_official . It is was introduced by these questions: * How does grief mute a body? * Is imagination a rehearsal? * How to engage with losses without falling into habitual remedies of fences and concrete perimeters? These photos are from 2022 by @cra19xyz , still so much love and gratitude to everyone who helped me make it happen.

galline capovolte in balli di foglie Some photos from the performance at the @museomadre on the 4th October. A vertical parade from the museum’s entrance to its roof: gargles and a long, endless laugh, backwards steps, being broomed up and down, a rain of leaves, masks thrown from a hole in the ceiling to be caught on the fly, jumps hand-in-hand through the narrow corridor of a permanent collection, the trembling and suspenseful music from a wind piano interweave the carpet of laughs, a stair that is not used where a double helix was traced of spiraling falling voices while going upward. Gloves and red tonguey pants by @dariobiancullo More credits and thanks in the previous posts.

A glimpse into the final day of “galline capovolte in balli di foglie” (“Upsidedowners Chicken in Balls of Leaves”). Over five days of workshops inside the @museomadre library, we wove a slowly perfuming tapestry from carnival rituals, foraged Neapolitan plants, and enchanted kinships, spinning a renewed carnival into being. Photos by @amedeo_benestante . Full credits and thanks in the previous post.

Still processing all that was sown during the workshop series galline capovolte in balli di foglie. Over five sessions at @museomadre , thirty to forty participants wove together plants collected around Naples (wisteria, cat's claw, tenax, laurel, myrtle, palm leaves, eucalyptus, blue jacaranda, willow, and more) into props designed to live next and around the body. We intertwined these materials with carnival festivities and rituals. Throughout, references and gestures from the carnivals of Campania diffracted into our movements, fueling a desire for a renewed, radically transformative carnival. These photos by @amedeo_benestante , taken on the final day of the workshop series, show us trying out the nearly finished props while I project some torchlight. As my first post since the workshop, I’d like to extend my gratitude: to @eva.fabbris for the invitation and @alberta_romano_ for making it all possible. A special thanks to the entire museum staff for laughing and being curios with me, the security guards for their patience during my night shifts, the Botanic Garden and Francesco for providing the plants, all the wonderful participants, and to those who performed with me (photos to come!). Last but not least, love to @kobramulata , @marcvs.trxsh , and @dariobiancullo for their support and enthusiasm.

ombre di cesti filtrano venti Lunedì 13 Ottobre 17~20 ৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌ Via Gioeni 29, Palermo L’ombra è lo scarto della luce? Cosa le separa ? La giustizia non è scritta con la pietra ma è intreccio vivente di rami, foglie, storie, memorie che si trasformano. Ombre di cesti filtrano venti è un laboratorio di intreccio e giustizia trasformativa offerto dall’artista Derek MF Di Fabio presso  ৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌. Derek condividerà alcune tecniche di intreccio con piante raccolte a Palermo e proporrà degli spunti di riflessione intorno a ciò che chiamiamo scarto, a come nasce l’ idea di altro, cosa ci divide e cosa ci fa sentire parte di una comunità. Laboratorio per persone dai 14 anni in su. Partecipazione libera con donazione per chi può. Scriveteci in DM per farci sapere se ci sarete.

((English & more below)) Galline capovolte in balli di foglie: domani inizia il mio workshop al @museomadre , una ricerca collettiva su alcuni rituali e gesti del carnevali tra pratiche somatiche e d'intreccio di piante. Maggiori info sulla pagina del Museo. Bisogna iscriversi, e forse é sold-out 🥲 🍂🐔🍃 Tomorrow i will start my workshop at @museomadre , the translantion of the title could sounds like Upsidedowners Chicken in Balls of Leaves. It will be a collective research on carnival rituals though plants weaving practices. Thanks @eva.fabbris for the invitation, @dariobiancullo for the fundamental presence, Carlotta, Fabio, @alberta_romano_ and @valeria.apicella for the help! And Francesco, Salvatore and Rosa from the Orto Botanico for the support and knowledge... and to all of those who value reproductive labour and are supporting my work and me in the background. Here some photos in chronological order of these first 72 hours in Naples. 1) Thanks @azul.demonte for animating my drawings for the flyer of this work! 2) arriving in Naples 3) Morning glories are taking over a ruin 4) basket meeting 5) Rosa showd to @albertaromano and me the fruits and seeds of a Clamedia 6) @alberta_romano_ <3 7) @museomadre 8) All the signs for the botanic garden of Napoli were done by a former employ I missed the name now, but i'll edit later. Stunning. 9) basket meeting at San Giovanni a Carbonara chuch 10-11) Spacetime travelling at the botanic garden. Originally from NZ, Formium Tenax was used widely to produced ropes and strings. I love the tying sound. 12) so called Cat Claws plant 13) Thanks @dariobiancullo to introduce me to Enzo Moscato's "Rasoi", wow 14) Somewhere up up up, to beautiful to disclose 15) Carlotta and eucalyptus 16-17-18) Moving plants and their friends 19-20) Glad to see "Femmenell (chic e favoloso)" @femmenellmovie by Andrea Fortis, starring Marcello Colasurdo <3 and Ciretta who was present at the screening, and brought me to tears