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This might be one of the biggest works at Villa. You already noticed it when approaching the museum: the giant flag outside. It is a translation of Being There, Feeling Here, part of the Strange Soil series made in the Maluku Islands. The original canvas was left in Nazif Lopulissa’s grandfather’s garden, where the sun bleached the fabric and falling leaves left their traces. In this process, the landscape, the climate, and Nazif’s playful experiments came together. The result is a dynamic artwork that reflects culture, history, and memory.
This way of working is typical for Nazif (1991). He explores materials with a spirit of play, letting colors, textures, and objects guide him. His Maluku and Turkish roots are always present: family stories, migration histories, and personal archives—textiles, keepsakes, heirlooms—become part of the work. Canvases are stitched, pigments mixed on the spot, everyday objects leave their marks. In his art, control meets chance, the intimate meets the collective, and personal stories meet broader histories of diaspora and colonialism. Together they create moments of reflection, recognition, and emotion.
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