Color has a taste, and wine has a rhythm: this is the philosophy of Paola Falconi, a Sardinian visual artist who, this summer, transformed Torre delle Stelle into a laboratory of emotions, where sips, gestures, and laughter blend into a single breath.
The Art & Wine project is not just a creative experience, but an invitation to reclaim the senses, immersing oneself in a ritual that engages sight, taste, smell, and touch, giving participants the chance to disconnect from the daily rush and rediscover authentic, shared joy.
“Art & Wine means living an experience that touches all the senses,” says Paola Falconi. “When someone paints, observes, tastes, and smells the aromas, they focus solely on that and, for a moment, unplug. It’s an experience of pleasure, fun, and lightness. All this while a glass of wine accompanies the process, making it even more harmonious.”
The genesis of the project, the artist explains, comes from a trip to Barcelona, where she personally experienced this combination of art and conviviality. “I saw what it means to live Art & Wine from the inside, and I decided to bring it to Sardinia, starting with Aquarium Sardinia. The idea was to develop a path that would allow this experience to be offered in Cagliari and beyond.”
The Art & Wine ritual takes place around a table set with easels, canvases, paints, and materials carefully selected by Paola, along with a model prepared in advance by the artist. People of all ages and backgrounds—from fourteen to eighty, painting experts and beginners alike—take part in this shared moment, where focus and joy coexist effortlessly.
“I’m always struck by how fully people immerse themselves in the experience. They relax, have fun, become a little like children again, laugh at their mistakes, and share the satisfaction of creating something unique, even if simple,” adds Falconi.
The experience is not only personal but profoundly collective. “What I see is that art becomes a means of universal communication,” she observes. “Participants open up to others without barriers, regardless of age, life path, or background. In this sense, Art & Wine is also a form of social therapy: it creates community and invites people to look at others—and themselves—in a new way.”
The Sardinian dimension of the project adds an extra layer of depth: the island, with its history of geographical and cultural isolation, finds in art and wine powerful tools for openness and sharing. Paola explains how even people accustomed to different standards, coming from abroad or cities like San Francisco, immersed themselves in an experience of simplicity and authenticity, rediscovering the ability to be surprised and let go.
The Aquarium Sardinia, the venue that hosted the project, becomes more than just a setting: it is an ecosystem where art, culture, and gastronomy merge. Located in Torre delle Stelle, the Aquarium combines dining, hospitality, and cultural experiences with an approach that highlights Sardinian tradition through quality, sustainability, and territorial identity.
The management is led by Nathalie and David De Clercq, while Emanuele Enna oversees the gastronomic vision that spans all the group’s ventures—from Farra Pizzeria to Mosaico Restaurant, Villa De Bigard, AQ Catering, AQ Bar, and the Aquarium Boutique. Each project maintains its own identity but shares common standards of excellence and attention to detail, creating a cohesive framework in which every experience—from a dish to a glass of wine, from an aperitif to a private event—is carefully designed and calibrated.
The setting of the Aquarium allows Paola to present Art & Wine in an elegant yet accessible dimension: natural light, gardens, the distant sea, and the careful attention to gastronomic details intertwine with the creative act, transforming the simple gesture of painting into a multisensory experience.
“Wine helps to release tension, to enter the moment, to enjoy the beauty of the gesture,” she explains. “And food also plays its role: a thoughtfully prepared, aesthetically refined dish becomes part of the experience and contributes to a sense of harmony.”
The project is neither episodic nor seasonal: Paola has already carried out Art & Wine on several occasions, both during the summer at Torre delle Stelle and at more recent events in Cagliari, demonstrating her desire to make this practice an integral part of her artistic journey and Sardinia’s cultural life.
“This summer was a wonderful experience: I had the opportunity to generate some income, which also allows me to support my personal artistic projects, and the response was enthusiastic. People had fun, relaxed, and rediscovered the joy of the creative act,” Falconi recounts.
Paola envisions a future in which Art & Wine can travel, crossing Italy and beyond, bringing its magic outside Sardinia as well. “If any chef or venue wanted to host the experience, it would be wonderful. The goal is to keep the project authentic, simple, and accessible, yet capable of creating moments of sharing and well-being. Even people accustomed to different standards rediscover pleasure in simplicity: in front of an easel, a canvas, and a glass, they become children too.” The strength of Art & Wine lies in its ability to unite individuality and community, introspection and sociability, creativity and conviviality. Guided by Paola Falconi, each participant can experience a unique moment in which color becomes language, wine accompanies the rhythm of breath, and the pleasure of doing becomes a bridge to others. It is an experience that transcends age, background, and artistic experience, transforming and connecting people—laughing, creating, tasting, and being part of something greater than themselves, in a natural and spontaneous way.
In this project, art ceases to be a solitary act, wine becomes a companion, and Sardinia—with its beauty and contradictions—offers itself as the perfect stage. The ecosystem of Aquarium Sardinia amplifies Paola’s message: sustainability, quality, hospitality, and territorial identity are not abstract concepts, but tangible tools to experience a moment where pleasure becomes participation, culture becomes experience, and every sense finds its place.
