To celebrate the 25th anniversary of its Contemporary Art Collection—which features significant works of Italian art from the 1950s to today—the Farnesina is promoting a major touring exhibition across Europe.
The exhibition project “Identities Beyond Borders”, curated by Benedetta Carpi De Resmini, explores the relationship between human beings and nature, examining the concepts of identity, conflict, and coexistence in a context marked by environmental crises, globalization, and social transformations. Promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the project includes three exhibitions in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institutes in Berlin, Vilnius, and Valletta.
“Identities Beyond Borders” encompasses many of the core elements of cultural diplomacy: circulation through key international venues, the value of synergies with partners in the cultural sector, and the promotion of Italian artists abroad, 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 Coordination Unit for Italian Cultural Institutes.
The curatorial choice centers on the female artists in the Farnesina Collection. The curator explains: “The works included in the exhibition were not selected based on gender, but identified through an in-depth analysis of the Farnesina Collection, conducted within the thematic framework I had initially chosen to explore. This analysis revealed that these themes are predominantly addressed by women artists. The focus stems from an awareness of the deep and symbolic connection that has historically linked women to nature. Traditionally associated with fertility, care, and Mother Earth, women offer a sensitive and critical perspective on sustainability, ecological crisis, and identity.”
The selected artworks therefore reflect not only the relationship between humans and the environment but also the role of women in the contemporary discourse on regeneration, ecology, and social justice. In a time of growing global urgency, “Identities Beyond Borders” presents art as a tool for awareness and change.
The works on display offer multiple perspectives: from intimate, personal visions of the relationship with nature to powerful critiques of extractive policies and global power dynamics. In this dialogue between art, nature, and society, the possibility emerges for a new narrative—one no longer based on domination, but on harmonious coexistence and respect for the planet’s life cycles.
The exhibition also reflects the human relationship with the “elsewhere,” often perceived as unknown or threatening. It thus becomes a moment to reflect on the evolution of the Farnesina Collection, highlighting the contribution of artists from different generations, with a particular focus on emerging voices. The resulting intergenerational dialogue enriches cultural reflection, offering new interpretative tools for understanding the major transformations of our time.
The project is organized into three thematic sections:
- Geographies of Detachment
Explores how globalization has transformed the sense of identity and connection to nature, leading to crises of belonging and environmental alienation. The works offer alternative visions of identity in flux between roots and global adaptation. - Unstable Ecologies
Analyzes the links between environmental crises and social inequalities, emphasizing the consequences of globalization, geopolitical conflicts, and new forms of protest. - Roots of Resistance
Addresses nature as a place of resistance and rebirth for female identity. The works denounce the commodification of nature and the female body, in contrast with patriarchal culture.
Outside the main exhibition route, the work Fibonacci (1975) by Mario Merz, recently acquired by the Farnesina Collection, will be displayed. The Fibonacci sequence, a metaphor for natural growth, represents the intersection between mathematical order and organic processes, becoming a symbol of knowledge that transcends identity boundaries to embrace a universal and intercultural perspective.
(from the press release)
“Identità oltre confine”, curated by Benedetta Carpi De Resmini – 25th anniversary of Farnesina Contemporary Art Collection (Berlin, Vilnius, Malta), june 2025 – june 2026
The project includes three international exhibitions hosted by the Italian Cultural Institutes in three European capitals:
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Berlin – Italian Cultural Institute June 19 – July 21, 2025. Berlin, a symbol Central Europe, is a crossroads of reconciliation and cultural innovation, an ideal context for reflecting on identity transformations in the post-globalization era.
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Vilnius – Italian Cultural Institute September 19 – October 26 2025. As the capital of Lithuania and a laboratory for dialogue between historical memory and new cultural identities, Vilnius represents a transforming Eastern Europe
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Valletta (Malta) – Italian Cultural Institute June 2026. Representing Southern Europe, Valletta is a focal point for environmental and migratory issues. With its strong Mediterranean identity, the city sparks urgent reflections on culture and ecological crisis.
Artists featured in the exhibition: 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.
images: (cover 1) Identità senza confine/ Identity without borders, Poster (2) Elena Bellantoni, “The Fox and The Wolf Struggle for Power”, 2014. Video and 6 photographs, 58 x 16 cm © Elena Bellantoni. Courtesy of the artist. Farnesina Collection, Rome (3) Silvia Camporesi, “Le tre chiese (Quando comincia l’acqua, #2, #3, #7)”, 2011. Inkjet print. 3 elements, 63 x 73 cm each © Silvia Camporesi. Courtesy of the artist. Farnesina Collection, Rome (4) Martina della Valle, ‘Under the sun of Onomichi’, 2011. Photographic print on aluminium 66 x 100 cm © Martina Della Valle Courtesy of the artist. Farnesina Collection, Rome (5) Sarah Ciracì, ‘Trebbiatori Celesti’, 2001. Photographic print, 56 x 80 cm, Courtesy of the artist. Farnesina Collection, Rome (6) Tomaso Binga, ‘AlphaSymbol’, 2021. Digital print, 100 x 100 cm. Photo ©Giorgio Benni. Courtesy of the Tomaso Binga Archive. Farnesina Collection, Rome (7) Agnese Purgatorio, “Nella clandestinità” (In hiding), 2014. Digital collage, 79.5 x 113 cm © Agnese Purgatorio. Courtesy of the artist. Farnesina Collection, Rome
