The Third Paradise

Join us on Saturday, September 12 for a participatory performance by Matilde Nuzzo and Francesca Malverti (LENSart), in collaboration with Cittadellarte – Fondazione Pistoletto, Italian Cultural Institute of Toronto, and National accessArts Centre.

This performance is created by the people who attend. Through simple movement and shared actions, participants will come together to form The Third Paradise symbol. Attendees are encouraged to wear a plain white shirt.

In a society where physical and social distances often turn into mistrust, how do we find our way back to one another?

Inspired by the vision of famous Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto, The Third Paradise is a live, socially engaged art performance that uses human connection to bridge our differences. Pistoletto’s symbol—three connected loops—represents the idea that when two distinct worlds meet, they don’t erase each other. Instead, they unite to create a balanced, shared future.

This performance brings together neurotypical and neuroatypical participants—children and adults alike—to occupy a shared collective space. True inclusion isn’t about asking people to fit into a mold; it’s about walking a common road while celebrating the unique rhythm of every individual.

Through quiet coordination, visual signals, and shared movement, performers will physically form the Third Paradise symbol. By standing side-by-side, we move past the fear of “the different” and demonstrate what a caring, accessible community looks like in real time.

Join us to witness or take part in turning dialogue, empathy, and diversity into a living work of art.