Marzia Migliora's public art swing vandalized in Rome, while prison version thrives

Marzia Migliora's double installation "Staccando l'ombra da terra" was part of the "Back to nature" exhibition curated by Costantino D'Orazio at Villa Borghese in Rome. The work consisted of identical swings made from organ pipes with mechanical and electronic components that produced sounds based on movement. One swing was placed in the public Parco dei Daini, the other inside the women's prison Casa Circondariale femminile di Rebibbia. The public version was damaged due to "improper use" by children, according to the Sovrintendenza, and is now fenced off and awaiting removal. In contrast, the prison swing is well-maintained by inmates and may become a permanent installation. The incident highlights the paradox of public art: the work intended to foster community and joy was neglected in a public park suffering from broader decay, while it found care and appreciation within a prison. The author Alessandra Mammì notes that the park's overall neglect—dry lawns, thin trees, dusty paths—contributes to the lack of respect for the artwork, suggesting that a community that does not care for its public spaces will not care for art. The prison community, however, understood the work's added value.