Tracce Di Luce is a sound dramaturgy and short audio documentary that captures the intricate layers of memory, history, and atmosphere in the village of Castelnuovo Al Volturno, in the Molise region of Italy. This composition, created in September 2024, emerged from a week-long residency organized by CISAV (Centro Indipendente Studi Alta Valle del Volturno) as part of the annual Tracce Di Luce festival. The festival itself celebrates the intersection of art, light, and landscape, drawing artists from diverse disciplines to engage with the cultural and historical fabric of the area.

During this week several artists and myself were invited to produce works inspired by or resonant with the figure of Charles Moulin, a French painter whose life and legacy remain imprinted on the village. Moulin, revered almost as a patron saint of Castelnuovo and chose to retreat to the mountains surrounding the village. There, he embraced the solitary existence of a hermit, finding both refuge and inspiration. His presence and artistic contributions continue to shape the village’s identity and collective memory.

In crafting this piece, I embedded myself within the community, allowing the landscape and local stories to guide the creative process. Through field recordings, interviews, and spontaneous encounters, I gathered testimonies from residents, weaving together narratives that reflect three central, intertwined aspects of Castelnuovo’s history:

The relationship between Charles Moulin and the village.
The near-total destruction of Castelnuovo during World War II, an event not driven by combat but by the village’s forced repurposing as a backdrop for a US propaganda film.
The village’s ongoing depopulation and rural flight, echoing the experiences of many small communities in Italy, where economic shifts and migration patterns have steadily eroded local populations.

Tracce Di Luce stands as an auditory reflection of Castelnuovo and invites listeners to connect to the village’s soundscape.

Available here