Conceived as more than an exhibition, it is an invitation to encounter the power of collective storytelling—and to reflect on how we grow, together.
Where art meets social impact
At its core, We Rise by Lifting Others is the result of a meeting point: between the mission of The Human Safety Net—to unlock the potential of people living in vulnerable circumstances—and Marinella Senatore’s deeply participatory artistic practice. The exhibition emerges from a co-creation journey involving families supported by The Human Safety Net and its NGO partners in Warsaw, Mestre and Palermo. Through workshops combining writing, storytelling, movement, and shared reflection, participants contributed words, ideas, and emotions that became the living material of the artworks.
Light, textiles, and the language of connection
The exhibition unfolds through two main elements: a monumental luminous structure and a series of six tapestries. The luminaria, standing around four metres tall, draws inspiration from Southern Italian festive traditions yet evolves into something more symbolic—a relational architecture of light. Words and phrases emerging from the workshops intertwine with decorative elements, creating a structure that makes collective experiences visible and shared.
Alongside it, the tapestries offer a more intimate narrative dimension. Inspired by diverse artistic traditions, they depict symbolic landscapes populated by human figures and embroidered texts—capturing desires, memories, and reflections on personal and collective potential.
Together, these works form an emotional and social map, where individual stories connect into a broader “we”, and where vulnerability is reimagined as a source of strength and possibility.
Co-creation as a transformative practice
The journey behind We Rise by Lifting Others unfolded between December 2025 and January 2026, across three partner organisations: Ta Szansa in Warsaw, Casa Famiglia San Pio X in Mestre, and the Centro per la Salute delle Bambine e dei Bambini in Palermo.
These workshops created safe spaces for listening, expression, and imagination—conditions where participants could reconnect with their own resources while building new connections with others. The result is not only an artwork, but a process that reflects the transformative potential of participation itself.
An open invitation to experience and take part
The exhibition does not stop at observation. Throughout its duration, Marinella Senatore will host workshops at La Casa di The Human Safety Net, offering visitors the opportunity to engage directly with her practice. These include sessions focused on body movement and collective sound, reinforcing the idea that art can be experienced not only with the eyes, but with the whole body.
For The Human Safety Net, this project is part of a broader commitment: to use storytelling and creativity as tools to generate awareness, participation, and tangible social impact.
