In a powerful new theatrical tour, artists are bringing to life an opera of pupi carved from the wooden wreckage of migrant boats. From Lampedusa to cities across Spain, this moving production reimagines one of Sicily’s oldest art forms, blending craftsmanship, memory, and humanity into a single voice.
The project was conceived by artist Giacomo Sferlazzo, who gathers pieces of wood from boats once used on dangerous sea crossings. Each fragment is transformed into a hand-carved puppet, while costumes are fashioned from clothing left behind by migrants. Every figure tells a story – of exile, courage, and survival – giving new meaning to materials once tied to desperation and hope.
