MASI Lugano Podcast

Chus Martínez: Rethinking Art, Institutions and Complexity

In this episode, we are joined by Chus Martínez, curator, writer and artistic director of the Ljubljana Biennale, and curator of the Danish Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2026. The conversation explores her curatorial approach and therole of institutions as spaces of collective responsibility. Martínez reflects on education, the limits of traditional distinctions between disciplines, and the need to move beyond dichotomies such as art and science, nature and culture. She outlines a way of thinking that embraces complexity and opens new perspectives on intelligence, human and non-human alike. This episode was recorded as part of SciArt Switzerland, aninitiative by the IBSA Foundation that fosters dialogue between science and the arts. Credits: Recording, editing, music, and direction by Ryan Jay Tweedie for Recall Sound Production Presented by Nabila Dolfini

Casa Aprile and the Dream of an Artistic Community in Carona with Lisa Wenger

In this episode, Virginia Marano, co-curator of the exhibition “David Weiss. The Dream of Casa Aprile. Carona 1968–1978”, is joined by Lisa Wenger, niece of Meret Oppenheim and co-director of the artist’s estate. The conversation explores Carona as a place of artistic exchange, focusing on Casa Costanza and Casa Aprile as key sites of encounter and community. Wenger reflects on Oppenheim’s connection to these spaces, from her early experiences to her later role as a mentor, and discusses how themes such as nature, light, and freedom shaped Oppenheim’s work. Through personal recollections and archival insights, the episode highlights the networks of artists and thinkers active in Carona during the 1960s and 1970s, and considers the ongoing work of preserving Oppenheim’s legacy today. Credits: Recording, editing, music, and direction by Ryan Jay Tweedie for Recall Sound Production Presented by Nabila Dolfini

Tobia Bezzola on Richard Paul Lohse

Tobia Bezzola, former director of MASI Lugano and President of the Richard Paul Lohse Stiftung, reflects on the life and work of Swiss artist Richard Paul Lohse. A key figureof twentieth century concrete art, Lohse developed a methodical approach to painting based on mathematical structures and carefully balanced colour systems. The conversation traces Lohse’s path from his early career as a graphic designer in Zurich to his growing international recognition through exhibitions such as the Venice Biennale,the São Paulo Biennial, and Documenta. Bezzola also discusses Lohse’s role within the concretist movement, the intellectual foundations of his work, and the relationship between his artistic practice and his political convictions. Through this perspective, Lohse emerges as an artist who sought to unite rational thought, visual perception, and ideas of equality within the structure of painting itself. Credits: Recording, editing, music, and direction by Ryan Jay Tweedie for Recall Sound Production Presented by Nabila Dolfini

Louisa Gagliardi: Many Moons – Exploring Liminal Realms

In this episode, we are joined by Louisa Gagliardi, aZurich-based artist whose work explores the intersection of technology, identity, and human connection. Recorded in conjunction with her first solo institutional show in Switzerland, Many Moons, at MASI Lugano, Louisa shares insights into her artistic journey, from her early exposure to art and design to her current practice of blending digital and analog mediums. Credits: Recording, editing, music, and direction by Ryan Jay Tweedie for Recall Sound Production Presented by Nabila Dolfini

Glitching Reality: Ed Atkins on Art, AI & Human Emotion

In this episode of the MASI Lugano podcast, we delve into the creative world of acclaimed artist Ed Atkins—whose work who examines the complex relationship between life, emotions, representation, and technology. This episode was recorded as part of SciArt Switzerland, an initiative by the IBSA Foundation that fosters dialogue between science and the arts. Credits: Recording, editing, music, and direction by Ryan Jay Tweedie for Recall Sound Production Presented by Nabila Dolfini