On Sunday, 28 June 2026, the Museo Hoffmann in Caltagirone hosted the opening of the exhibition “Sempre verde nell’arte – Gli alberi sacri” (“Evergreen in Art – Sacred Trees”), an important artistic and educational project conceived and promoted by the Academy of Fine Arts of Catania.
The event transformed the spaces of the Museo Hoffmann into a place of encounter, dialogue and cultural sharing, enhancing the deep relationship between art, nature, memory, spirituality and territory. Hosted within the evocative setting of the former kiln, the exhibition attracted a large audience made up of teachers, students, artists, art enthusiasts, institutional representatives and leading figures from the cultural world.
The Academy of Fine Arts of Catania at the heart of the event at the Museo Hoffmann
The exhibition “Sempre verde nell’arte – Gli alberi sacri” was born from a project coordinated by professors Paolina Giansiracusa and Salvatore Pennacchio, with the involvement of students from the Academy of Fine Arts of Catania and the cultural and artistic association Arteinposa of Syracuse.
The project placed the theme of the tree at its centre as a universal symbol of life, roots, growth, identity, spirituality and rebirth. Through paintings, graphic works and visual installations, the students interpreted the concept of the “sacred tree” using contemporary languages, personal sensitivities and different creative approaches.
The works on display found a particularly evocative setting within the spaces of the Museo Hoffmann, where the industrial history of the former kiln dialogues with contemporary artistic research, creating an immersive path capable of engaging visitors on a visual, emotional and cultural level.
The lectio magistralis by Prof. Paolo Giansiracusa
One of the most significant moments of the day was the participation of Prof. Paolo Giansiracusa, art historian, who delivered a lectio magistralis dedicated to the symbolic, cultural and artistic value of the tree in the history of art and in contemporary sensitivity.
His contribution enriched the opening with a profound reflection on the relationship between image, nature and sacredness, offering the audience useful interpretative tools to understand the most authentic meaning of the exhibition project.
Greetings from the Museo Hoffmann and the presence of the institutions
Prof. Antonino Navanzino, director of the Museo Hoffmann, took part in the opening and underlined the importance of opening the museum to new generations, artistic education and collaborations with the cultural institutions of the territory.
Also in attendance was Architect Sergio Gruttadauria, Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan City of Catania, confirming the attention of the institutions towards initiatives capable of combining culture, education, heritage enhancement and territorial promotion; he was the only institutional representative present at the event.
Among the participants were numerous figures from the cultural and professional world, including Dr Domenico Amoroso, together with teachers, young artists, students and enthusiasts who followed both the moments of in-depth discussion and the exhibition itinerary with great interest.
The artists of the Arteinposa atelier of Syracuse
The artists of the Arteinposa atelier of Syracuse also took part in the opening day, helping to broaden the artistic and cultural dialogue around the theme of the exhibition.
Their presence strengthened the open and participatory nature of the initiative, creating a bridge between different artistic experiences and confirming the Museo Hoffmann as a space capable of welcoming projects from all over Sicily.
A large audience among art, young people and culture
The images of the opening tell the story of a broad and vibrant participation: the conference hall of the Museo Hoffmann filled with people, an attentive audience during the speeches, young artists alongside their teachers, and visitors observing the works displayed inside the evocative brick gallery of the former kiln.
The atmosphere of the event conveyed the sense of a cultural community in motion, where different generations came together in the name of art and knowledge.
The involvement of young people was particularly significant. They were protagonists not only as students and authors of the works, but also as engaged and curious members of the audience. The exhibition therefore represented a concrete opportunity for growth, dialogue and visibility for new artistic languages.
The Museo Hoffmann of Caltagirone as a space for contemporary culture
With the opening of “Sempre verde nell’arte – Gli alberi sacri”, the Museo Hoffmann of Caltagirone confirms its vocation as a dynamic place, open to experimentation, education, memory and contemporary cultural production.
The spaces of the former kiln, rich in history and identity, once again proved to be an ideal setting for hosting exhibitions, meetings, conferences and artistic itineraries capable of enhancing the territory and attracting audiences, students, families, institutions and cultural operators.
The dialogue between the Museo Hoffmann and the Academy of Fine Arts of Catania represents a virtuous example of collaboration between cultural, educational and territorial realities, with the shared aim of promoting art, supporting young talents and creating opportunities for collective participation.
An exhibition between art, nature and spirituality
The theme of sacred trees offered the public a highly evocative journey. The tree, present in cultures of every era as a symbol of life, protection, strength and connection between earth and sky, was reinterpreted by the students through works capable of combining aesthetic research and personal reflection.
“Sempre verde nell’arte” thus becomes not only the title of an exhibition, but also a message: art remains alive when it is able to speak to the present, generate questions, create relationships and preserve the bond between human beings, nature and memory.
Conclusion
The opening of the exhibition “Sempre verde nell’arte – Gli alberi sacri” represented a moment of great cultural, artistic and human value for the Museo Hoffmann of Caltagirone.
The presence of the Academy of Fine Arts of Catania, professors Paolina Giansiracusa and Salvatore Pennacchio, Prof. Paolo Giansiracusa, museum director Antonino Navanzino, Architect Sergio Gruttadauria, the artists of the Arteinposa atelier of Syracuse and a large and engaged audience made the event an important opportunity for encounter and shared growth.
The Museo Hoffmann thus continues its path of cultural enhancement, confirming itself as one of the most interesting places in the Calatino area for events, exhibitions, meetings, contemporary art and the promotion of young talents.
