Fragile Ecosystem
Site-specific installation at the Botanical Garden in Rome

Like a dense network of relationships, the strength of an ecosystem lies in its ability to restore balance in the face of disturbances. However, all ecosystems, when subjected to excessive trials, can prove to be fragile. The specificity and conditions that allow for their inidivdual development make some ecosystems more vulnerable than others. If a component fails due to excessive or prolonged disturbances, even the most robust ecosystems can suffer irreparable damage.

 

“Fragile Ecosystem” invites us to consider the value and precariousness of the ecosystems that surround us, calling for reflections on this delicate tension. Created with fabrics and dyes of plant origin, the installation evokes the silhouettes and echoes of an endangered ecosystem. Cotton fabrics, touched by the wind, evoke ephemeral landscapes of a world in its terminal state. In the center, hidden among the folds of the fabrics, a faint glow remains alive, symbolizing the resilience of nature in the face of adversity.

 

Its placement within the Botanical Garden of Rome initiates a suggestive dialogue on the dependancy of biological existence, complemented by the designer’s ability to transform material processes into narrative and educational vehicles. The Exhibition Greenhouse (Serra Espositiva), a place of biodiversity and plant conservation, becomes the ideal setting for a work that contemplates the fragile relationship between human civilization and the environment. “Fragile Ecosystem” offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in a profound reflection on our relationship with the environment.

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Installation by Giulia Pompilj

Soundscape design: Edoardo Tedone

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This project has been realised thanks to the invaluable support and expertise of Biologist Caterina Giovinazzo and Vito Emanuele Cambria,  the Orto Botanico di Roma and Università La Sapienza di Roma.

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