"A Bed Is A Door" is a series of five blankets designed to absorb and accumulate the energies released from the human body during sleep. They welcome the slumber of artists, writers, performers, musicians, and researchers with the intention of stimulating lucid dreaming, self-suggestion power, and divination during the sleeping state: a microcosmic manifestation of primordial energy. The work developed as an artist’s residency that operated in the spaces of Villa Romana in Florence from 2011 to 2015. "A Bed Is A Door stems from the desire to explore and experience a world not governed by the laws of physics. The project began with a series of exercises designed to develop a state of consciousness during sleep in order to explore and modify dreams at will: while perception and feelings are genuinely experienced, physical principles such as gravity, entropy or space-time lose their hegemony, opening gates to a reality where imagination is free to grant consciousness any form or material state."

The nature of this work delves into the intersection between art and metaphysics. By creating blankets that serve as conduits for dream exploration and energy accumulation, this work challenges conventional boundaries between waking life and dream states. It posits that sleep is not merely a passive state but an active realm where consciousness can be expanded and manipulated. This idea aligns with ancient practices like shamanic journeying or Tibetan dream yoga, which view dreams as portals to higher states of awareness.

Moreover, by inviting creative individuals—artists, writers, performers—to participate in this residency project at Villa Romana, "A Bed Is A Door" underscores the collaborative nature of artistic exploration. Each participant's unique energy contributes to a collective reservoir that enriches subsequent experiences for others. This communal aspect highlights how individual creativity can be amplified through shared endeavors.

The project's emphasis on transcending physical laws during sleep also invites viewers to reconsider their own perceptions of reality. In dreams where gravity doesn't bind us or time doesn't constrain us—the possibilities become limitless. This liberation from physical constraints allows for profound introspection and self-discovery; it encourages participants (and viewers) to question what is truly possible when imagination reigns supreme.

Invited artists:
Francisco Queimadela & Mariana Calò (curated by Filipa Ramos), Alessandro Agudio, Daniel Keller, Timur Si-Qin, Matteo Nasini.