This conference is centered on the extraordinary paintings and graffiti in the inquisitorial cells of Palermo situating these within the broader context of literature produced from inquisitorial cells such as letters, secret messages, images.
We want to study these paintings and texts from diverse and multidisciplinary perspectives that approach the graffiti from the point of view of
-testimony posed as an expression of the voice of the victims
-religiosity and the religious debate from inside the cells or the cells as sites of production of religious culture
-isolation, disciplining, secrecy and confession as the creative framework for these paintings
-visual, hagiographic and textual culture as a language that expresses the voice of the prisoners
-the secret and the public in the Inquisition
But also, life in the cells and its parallels with conventual life, the liturgy which took place in prison, other documents (such as tickets, letters) that came from the cells which also act as testimony of the victims.
You can read the programme here.