Fabrics and Colors: Maria Lai’s Sardinia

Hello! The scorching month of July 2026 has just ended, and since no significant drop in temperature is forecast for the immediate future, we have a tip for finding a cool oasis—provided you have the determination to leave the house.

We are going to tell you about a wonderful exhibition running until October 12, 2026, at the MADRE Museum (*) in Naples. Beyond its stimulating cultural offerings, the museum currently boasts splendid air conditioning, making a visit even more enjoyable.

The exhibition is titled *Essere è tessere* ("To Be Is to Weave") and features a wide selection of works by the Sardinian artist Maria Lai. To give you some background on the artist, we are sharing an article from the website *Finestre sull'Arte*:

Maria Lai (Ulassai, 1919 – Cardedu, 2013) is a renowned artist, best known for her textile works; critic Giorgio Di Genova described her as a "poetic scribe of sewing." Indeed, her artistic technique revolves around the use of textile materials that evoke the past of her homeland and the ancient traditions of Sardinia. Her art is linked to elements such as tradition, discarded materials, and weaving. Her most representative and famous work is *Legarsi alla montagna* (Binding to the Mountain, 1981), an artistic event held in Ulassai over the course of three days.

Her story and persona stand as a symbol of female emancipation; she was able to transform what should have been the ordinary—such as working at the loom or in the kitchen—into her art, thereby managing to escape a pre-written future.

Speaking of her life, she stated: "Ever since I was a child, I always needed to escape from home, and people would look at me with a questioning air: 'Don't we love you enough? Why are you always away? Why are you always hiding?' I loved being alone, hidden, and they would ask: 'But what are you doing?' And I would listen to the silence. It seemed beautiful to me. Yet, naturally, I felt different; I always felt somewhat accused, as if I were betraying those who loved me. And I have always felt the need to create distance between myself and those who love me. I cannot bear being loved too much. True love is the kind my father gave me—helping me to be free, even while being deeply worried about me."

So, let us show you images of the works that impressed us the most—viewed, of course, from our humble perspective as ordinary museum visitors:

And to conclude, an image showing what is considered the symbol of the MADRE—Mimmo Paladino’s *Horse*—installed on the building's roof and photographed from a second-floor corridor (the roof is accessed via two flights of stairs):

We should also mention that two other temporary exhibitions are currently on display at the MADRE, alongside the permanent collection.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME!!!

(*) symbol indicating the presence of accessible restrooms for people with disabilities