A workshop of light that explores the multifaceted world of photographer and designer Maurizio Buttazzo, whose artistic practice has spanned over fifty years, encompassing documentary photography, design and cultural activism. The hallmark of his work is the assemblage of materials, hybrid practices and visions that explore the expressive potential of the elements.
Lumi n Arie is a workshop that has brought together two historic Salento-based lighting companies, Parisi Luminarie and Mariano Light, resulting in an original installation that draws on the iconographic heritage and identity of each organisation.
‘Lumi n Arie’ is the result of one of the artist residencies hosted at the Castello Volante in the run-up to the activities of La Festa di Cinema del Reale. A project that, year after year, revitalises places and relationships, with its community of filmmakers and leading figures in documentary cinema gathering between the moat and the terraces of one of Puglia’s most beautiful castles and in the village of Corigliano d’Otranto.
Fratelli Parisi
The first record of the Parisi Brothers’ work dates back to 1876, when they organised the festival in the village of Taurisano.
Over the decades, successive generations of the Parisi family who have run the business have seen various changes and technological developments.
Whilst Salvatore, a member of the second generation of the Parisi family, witnessed during his time at the helm the transition from ‘lumini in aria’ (from which the term ‘luminaria’ derives) to light bulbs, Torquato and Rocco, representing the seventh generation of the Parisi family, witnessed a more environmentally friendly evolution, from incandescent bulbs to LED lighting.
In 2013, Torquato and Rocco had a significant insight that would revolutionise the way ‘luminaria’ are viewed, no longer limited to simply decorating town squares. The two brothers launched two new production lines, which the company continues to pursue with passion to this day: event design and the creation of bespoke interior and exterior design pieces for their clients.
This marked the start of a long series of collaborations at both national and international levels: installations for events, museums, companies and films.
Despite the challenging period experienced in 2020, the two brothers embarked on a major international collaboration that has certainly left its mark on the company’s history: the staging of Piazza Duomo in Lecce for the fashion show organised by the fashion house Dior.
Mariano Light
Mariano Scenografie Luminose was founded in 1898, when Salvatore began his career as a ‘paratore’. His invaluable wealth of experience and entrepreneurial values was then passed on to his son Eliseo, who in turn enriched it and passed it on to Lucio Mariano. By combining tradition and innovation, Lucio has promoted and exported the ‘Made in Puglia’ brand, raising awareness of this splendid tradition throughout Italy and across the globe.
Technical expertise and imagination combine to create a unique and ever-changing product, which the unwavering passion of four generations has carried into the third millennium. From carbide lamps to electricity, from incandescent bulbs to LED lighting and the millions of colours of RGB: innovation and tradition in a company that has transformed the Luminarie into veritable architectural structures and sculptures of light, admired throughout the world.
MarianoLight’s headquarters, covering an area of 8,000 square metres, comprises administrative and marketing offices, graphic design and design studios, workshops for working with wood, metal and materials such as Plexiglas, polycarbonate and plastic, warehouses for storing finished products, and showrooms.
We specialise in the design, research, production, sale and installation of the most advanced lighting solutions, whilst always respecting the environment and the architectural settings that host our creations.
We have collaborated on numerous national and international projects for luxury brands, events linked to the fashion and cultural sectors, and traditional decorations for festivals, both locally and abroad, which have raised the company’s profile worldwide.
