KENGO KUMA FOR ALCANTARA: A NEW SCENOGRAPHY FOR SIMON BOCCANEGRA AT THE TEATRO DI SAN CARLO IN NAPELS

“Shiwa Shiwa” is the title of the exclusive scenery created for Alcantara by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, serving as the scenography for the opera Simon Boccanegra at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples.

The term “Shiwa Shiwa” means stone/groove and evokes the idea of a fluid and elusive nature. A vision perfectly embodied by Alcantara and its choice of a highly innovative and sensory material.

The waves in Alcantara that characterize the scenography symbolize the continuous change and dynamism of nature, reflecting the very essence of Giuseppe Verdi‘s opera.
More than a simple scenery, this creation becomes a work of art in motion, deeply interacting with the maritime theme of the opera, symbolically linking Genoa, the story’s setting, and Naples, the host city.

In Kengo Kuma’s vision, the scenography envelops the stage of the Teatro di San Carlo, taking on a leading role that interacts with the choir’s voices and the orchestra, in a play of references between form and sound. The result is a total sensory experience, where the fusion of light and material amplifies the emotional power of the opera.

The collaboration between Kengo Kuma and Alcantara was presented during EDIT Napoli (October 11-13, 2024), one of Italy’s most important design events, curated and directed by Emilia Petruccelli and Domitilla Dardi, showcasing the most contemporary stylistic experiments from the design world.
“Shiwa Shiwa” is part of the EDIT Cult section, a parallel program to the main exhibition that opens the doors to unique locations, extending beyond the city center to the seaside neighborhoods of Naples.