In Sardinian, the word Nodu (or Nuù in the Campidanese dialect) means both rock and knot—a bond. It is this knot that binds Raffaele Urru, a poet from Burcei, to his native village: only the earth can untie it, as in ancient rituals where a knotted handkerchief was buried to seal an unbreakable union. This double meaning guides a profound reflection on the village: stone becomes a symbol of belonging, and voice becomes a code of memory.
Burcei is the child of stone, and its identity echoes through the ancient poetic duels in limba, in is mutetus, passed down orally and preserved in precious audio archives. The mountainous landscape is harsh, lunar, dissolving into cherry blossoms in the valley. Massive stones rooted in the earth bear inscriptions from ancient civilizations: in Sardinia, stone is a foundational element—for building, for marking boundaries, for division, and for communication. The Nuragic civilization spoke to the living and the dead through carved symbols and forms, creating a code—almost a score—that remains legible today.
Stone, song, code, and memory inspire the work of Sara Persico, who once again engages with spaces that serve as both witnesses and amplifiers of emotion. The artist acts as a medium, working with sound as a living material—blending recordings of songs and vocal fragments from festivals, poetic duels, and archives with the voices of the future: those of young people invited to express their connection to the land and community through sound.
The result is a layered, collective sound performance. The ephemeral nature of sound finds its counterpoint in the engraved stone by Alison Darby: an immortal, tangible score—both metaphor of the bond with the earth and a lasting, even technological, tool for reactivating sound. The project offers a renewed bond: between past and present, between voice and form. An audio tape seals the experience, entering the community’s archive. The voice becomes stone, and the stone becomes sound: a living code of an identity in constant transformation.
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Artworks:
01. Sara Persico, Nuù (1), 2025, collective sound library.To start listening, scan the QR code.Countryside church of Sant’Isidoro, Burcei (SU)
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02. Sara Persico, Nuù (2), 2025, engraved granite, 180 × 130 × 40 cm.Sculpture created by Alison Darby.Countryside church of Sant’Isidoro, Burcei (SU)
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Discover the map hereㅤ
"NUÙ" IS A PROJECT THAT WEAVES TOGETHER COLLECTIVE MEMORY, LANDSCAPE, AND POETRY IN A SYMBOLIC KNOT. A LIVING ARCHIVE BORN OF LISTENING, IT OFFERS A SONIC PORTRAIT OF BURCEI—SHAPED BY VOICES, STONE, AND THE BREATH OF THE SURROUNDING NATURE.ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ
Sara Persico (Naples, Italy, 1993) is an Italian sound artist, composer, and performer whose practice focuses on voice and sound experimentation. Her work spans analog electronics, field recordings, and vocal processing techniques. She graduated in Voice and Performance from the Conservatorio San Pietro a Majella in Naples (2012) and earned a master’s degree from the Conservatorio Giovanni Battista Martini in Bologna (2015). She has participated in numerous international residencies, including Mutant Radio, Tbilisi (GE, 2024); MusicBoard Berlin, Kampala (UG, 2023); Goethe Institut, Beirut (LB, 2023); Summersessions, Argentiera (IT, 2022); Amplify Berlin (DE, 2021); and Tempo Studio, Lisbon (PT, 2018). Her performances have been presented at festivals and venues such as Berlin Atonal, documenta fifteen, Ballroom Blitz Beirut, CTM, Nyege Nyege Festival, Ormside Projects, Dancity Festival, and Santarcangelo Festival. She has collaborated with artists including Evelyn Saylor’s vocal ensemble for light years by Caterina Barbieri at Rewire Festival and London’s Southbank Centre, as well as Elvin Brandhi, Andy Moor (The Ex), Tony Elieh, Ludwig Wandinger, Dirar Kalash, and Francesca Grilli. Her debut EP Boundary was released in March 2023 on Karlrecords, followed by her latest album Sphaîra, released in February 2025 on the UK-based label Subtext Recordings. She was selected for the SHAPE+ Platform 2023–2024, a European initiative supporting innovative music and sound art.
Situated at 648 meters above sea level, Burcei is the highest municipality in southern Sardinia. Nestled among the Serpeddì, Genis, and Sette Fratelli mountains, it overlooks a landscape stretching from the Gulf of Cagliari to the emerald waters of Sarrabus. Surrounded by forests, rugged peaks, and clear springs, it preserves an unspoiled natural environment, with snowy winters and fresh air year-round.Burcei’s origins date back to the Nuragic era, as shown by the many nuraghi in the area. In the Middle Ages, the settlement of Santa Maria Paradiso was home to farmers and shepherds. After a period of abandonment, the village was revived in 1655 by families fleeing the plague, and in 1692 with Giacomo Ortu’s symbolic act on behalf of the Marquis of Quirra.Today, Burcei is known across the island for its cherries, olives, and grapes, as well as for its strong agro-pastoral traditions. The summer festivals of Santa Barbara and Santa Maria di Monserrat, the town’s patron saint, celebrate the deep connection between past and present.
Anna Pirisi (Nuoro, 1991) is a professional in the management, protection, and enhancement of artistic and cultural heritage. She graduated in DAMS from the University of Bologna and in Art History at the University of Cagliari with a focus on contemporary art and decolonizations ; she also holds a master’s degree in Art and Cultural Law and Economics. She has experience in museums and art galleries both in Sardinia, in Italy and abroad, holding roles in curatorship, cultural mediation, and event management. She currently works at the Costantino Nivola Foundation, continuing her commitment to art promotion and education.