It was the first time that Vittorio conceived a work (in this case an entire installation) with a direct and conscious biographical reference. His aim was not only to develop a commentary on his father's biography but also to broaden the focus and metaphorically connect it to countless other experiences of people who have left their country. Perhaps the installation could be understood as a poignant exploration of the human experience of time and memory and ‘the emotional possibilities of a reduced abstraction’.

In parallel to this acquisition, Santoro donated to the museum History isn’t Over..., October 2022–April 2023, one of his performance drawings entitled Time Based Text Works which form an important part of his practice. These works are performed on a piece of paper following a simple protocol: the artist chooses a sentence from his mental pool or archive to create a statement that resonates with a poetic or philosophical seriousness, yet also connect us with everyday social moments. He writes the sentence(s) or words in capital letters in a way that imitates a mechanical quality and that is somehow detached from himself while also recording a kind of imprint of himself. He traces the letters of the existing text once a day over a predetermined period of time (usually 6 months, sometimes less). The work has to be done every day, even when he is traveling. The artist doesn't repeat, he insists : insistence, as a means of breaking down preconceptions and encouraging new readings .More information about Vittorio Santoro