Marco Scotini on PAV's Eco-Art Mission and Pandemic Response

Marco Scotini, curator of Parco Arte Vivente (PAV) in Turin since 2014, discusses the institution's unique fusion of art and ecology. Founded in 2009 by artist Pietro Gilardi, PAV combines outdoor and indoor exhibition spaces with educational labs. Scotini shifted the focus from bioart to a geo-political perspective, examining colonialism and slavery's impact on regions like Southeast Asia, China, and Africa. He critiques the term 'Antropocene' as an abstraction that obscures specific historical responsibilities. The exhibition 'Politics of Disaster. Gender, Environment, Religion' featuring Indonesian artist Arahmaiani was suspended due to COVID-19, with no virtual tour offered to avoid digital pollution. Scotini emphasizes that art should de-professionalize creativity and re-enchant the world, citing Silvia Federici. He argues that non-Western cultures, particularly Asian and Global South women, offer more fusionary relationships with nature. PAV remains rooted in physical space, refusing digital alternatives during lockdown.