Art and nature initiatives promote social inclusion and urban ecology in Italy

Various cultural and social initiatives are taking place in Italy, focusing on the intersection of art, nature, and community.

The Fondazione Giovanni Battista Mossetto is launching the “Abbracciare gli alberi” initiative, scheduled for September 19 and 20. Held at Palazzo Dal Pozzo Della Cisterna and Palazzo Birago, the event features urban art installations using knitting and crochet to wrap tree trunks symbolically. The project aims to promote environmental protection, mental health, and social inclusion, with a specific focus on supporting individuals with autism and neurodivergence through creative workshops and community engagement.

In a separate artistic endeavor, Colombian artist Evelyn Tovar Toro is presenting “Fra Ruderi,” a site-specific installation at Chiasso Perduto from September 10 to 13. The project explores ruderal plants—species that grow in disturbed urban environments—such as capers and artemisia. Tovar Toro uses these plants to examine the connection between human language, territory, and survival, incorporating manipulated old encyclopedias and dictionaries into her work to explore collective memory.