On the occasion of Fabrica, the exhibition promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation celebrating Italian excellence and inaugurated on 10 April, the Italian Cultural Institute of New Delhi presented the exhibition of renowned Italian artist Daniela Papadia, in collaboration with the Chanakya School of Craft in Mumbai.
Genes Mundi is not just an exhibition, but a journey into the heart of human history through the unbroken thread of maternal lineage.
Six large tapestries, each measuring 120×240 cm, depict the world on a fabric that transforms into a living organism. Each thread represents the millennia-long journey of women who have passed on life and memory through mitochondrial DNA. The golden thread illuminates this legacy, weaving the past with the present and projecting it into the future. The invitation is to rediscover the profound bond that unites us—where threads are the very weave of humanity, crafted by the hands of mothers and daughters throughout history.
“I chose embroidery,” says Daniela Papadia, “because it has a voice—a voice of pain, love, and resilience. It carries a message that cannot be torn apart”.
The project, which follows the broader understanding initiated by Minister Tajani’s mission to New Delhi, places art at the heart of a cultural dialogue and offers a forward-looking vision of the connection between India and the Mediterranean region.
