To mark the 25th anniversary of its Contemporary Art Collection – which brings together significant works of Italian art from the 1950s to the present – the Italian Foreign Ministry is launching a major touring exhibition across Europe.
The exhibition project, Identity beyond borders, curated by Benedetta Carpi De Resmini, explores the relationship between humans and nature, delving into the concepts of identity, conflict and coexistence in a world shaped by environmental crises, globalisation, and social transformation.
Promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the project comprises three exhibitions realised in collaboration with Cities Art Projects and the Italian Cultural Institutes of Berlin (19 June – 21 July 2025), Vilnius (18 September – 19 October 2025), and Valletta (June 2026).
“Identity beyond borders encapsulates many of the key elements of cultural diplomacy: its circulation in important venues on the international stage, the value of synergies with partners in the cultural sector, and the promotion abroad of Italian artists – including emerging talents – made possible through the diplomatic and cultural network of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,” comments Marco Maria Cerbo, Head of the Unit for the Coordination of Italian Cultural Institutes.
The curatorial approach places a particular focus on the female artists featured in the Farnesina Collection. The curator explains: “The works included in the exhibition were not selected based on gender, but rather through a careful analysis of the Farnesina Collection in relation to the theme I had chosen to explore. This analysis revealed that these subjects are predominantly addressed by women artists. The focus arises from an awareness of the deep and symbolic connection that has historically linked women and nature. Traditionally associated with fertility, care, and Mother Earth, women offer a sensitive and critical perspective on issues such as sustainability, ecological crisis, and identity“.
The selected works thus reflect not only the relationship between humans and the environment, but also the position of women within the contemporary discourse on regeneration, ecology, and social justice. At a time of growing global urgency, Identity beyond borders proposes art as a tool for awareness and change.
Featured artists: Carla Accardi, Letizia Battaglia, Elena Bellantoni, Tomaso Binga, Silvia Camporesi, Gea Casolaro, Sarah Ciracì, Martina della Valle, Loredana Di Lillo, Paola Gandolfi, Silvia Giambrone, Ketty La Rocca, Maria Lai, Elena Mazzi, Rä di Martino, Elisa Montessori, Laura Pugno, Agnese Purgatorio, Marta Roberti, Marinella Senatore.
