Art among the volcanoes

Panorama Pozzuoli for Art Basel magazine

Gods, demons, volcanoes, sunken cities, and artworld arch joker Maurizio Cattelan – at this year’s ʻPanorama,ʼ the earth ʻbreathes, rises and sinks, constantly reminding us of its unstable nature,ʼ explains Chiara Parisi, director at the Centre Pompidou-Metz and curator of the 2025 edition, which opens on September 10th. Asked why she decided to take on this ambitious venture – a five day exhibition with 47 artists that will wind its way through the 2500-year-old town of Pozzuoli, and its active volcanic caldera – she says: ʻI wanted to bring together a group of artists in a place in Italy they don’t necessarily know, to create an ephemeral land art project. Pozzuoli, with its mix of punk energy and romantic atmosphere, has always fascinated me.ʼ