BENU

The permanent installation, created inside the Rebibbia Germana Stefanini Women’s Prison, consists of two luminous phoenixes — ancient symbols of rebirth and regeneration — that light up every evening thanks to the energy produced by the women detained in the prison through the use of stationary bicycles.

The project is the result of a long co-creation process: Eugenio Tibaldi led workshops and listening sessions with the incarcerated women, gathering stories, emotions and aspirations that were later transformed into a collective artwork, now part of the institution’s permanent heritage.

The project aims to bring art to places of imprisonment, offering incarcerated people a time and space for beauty, listening and reflection. At the same time, it aims to enhance creativity as a tool for personal regeneration, capable of strengthening the self-esteem and skills of those who participate, and to build a bridge between the “inside” and the “outside,” raising awareness of the value of cultural paths in prison.

Finally, the resulting work is proposed as a permanent sign of hope, a heritage of the institution and a concrete testimony of a possible dialogue between art, community and institutions.