Triptych: the Architecture of Silence

The Norwegian artist Per Barclay, a leading figure in the international contemporary art scene, presents an installation conceived as part of an ambitious project articulated in three symbolic locations of European history: Norway, Normandy, and Sicily. The intervention at the Church of San Cataldo in Palermo is indeed part of a triptych that includes a first stop at the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo, where the artist will create an installation in dialogue with a rare Viking helmet from the 10th century, and a second stop at the Abbey of Saint-Ouen in Rouen, one of the most imposing Norman religious buildings, where site-specific installations are planned. In Palermo, the artist will create one of his installations based on the creation of a perfectly reflective liquid surface. The liquid used—wine or black spent oil—will transform the church's floor into a deep and immaterial mirror, capable of reflecting the surrounding architecture and radically altering the perception of space. Through this visually powerful device, the visitor will be invited to observe the monument from a new perspective, suspended between reality and illusion. Per Barclay has already created a work of this nature in Palermo during Manifesta 12, leaving an important mark on the cultural memory of the city. The new project further deepens his reflection on the relationship between architecture, light, matter, and memory, transforming historical buildings into instruments of contemplation and sensory experience. The choice of the Church of San Cataldo holds particularly significant value. As an integral part of the UNESCO itinerary of Arab-Norman Palermo, the building is one of the most emblematic testimonies of the meeting of cultures that characterized Norman Sicily. Its Greek cross layout, Byzantine influences, the rigorous geometry of the interior spaces, and the famous domes that dominate the urban landscape make San Cataldo a symbol of the dialogue between East and West. By relating a Viking artifact in Norway, a large Norman monastic complex in Rouen, and one of the masterpieces of Arab-Norman architecture in Sicily, the project builds an artistic and symbolic path through Europe's cultural roots. The three installations engage with each other through the themes of reflection, memory, and the transformation of space, offering a contemporary reading of the historical connections that unite the Nordic world, Normandy, and the Mediterranean. Set within the framework of Millennium 2027, the work aims to highlight how European heritage can become a ground for contemporary creation and intercultural dialogue, contributing to renewing the gaze on the places of history and the shared identities they continue to narrate. Practical Information: Public advised Entrance to the church requires the payment of a ticket Presentation panel in 3 languages (Italian, English, French) Contacts