ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

ORTO: Villa Maraini's Garden Becomes a Book-Museum

publication · 2026-04-27

During the lockdown caused by the pandemic, artists and researchers at Villa Maraini, the Swiss Institute in Rome, developed ORTO, a publication crafted by NERO Editions. This work merges the characteristics of a book and a magazine, serving as a 'paper exhibition' that compiles eleven interpretations of the term 'orto' (garden). Edited by Saul Marcadent, a research fellow at IUAV in Venice, it features insights from environmental philosopher Marcello Di Paola and contributions from 13 resident artists, including Armando Bramanti and Johanna Bruckner. Joëlle Comé, the director, praises it as 'a very beautiful book where the diversity of contributions emerges,' while Marcadent highlights its non-authoritative, flexible approach. Released in 2020, it spans 144 pages and is priced at €25, ISBN 97888880561040.

Key facts

  • ORTO is a publication by NERO Editions, produced during pandemic lockdown at Villa Maraini, Rome.
  • The book functions as a 'paper exhibition' with 11 readings of the word 'orto'.
  • Saul Marcadent (IUAV Venice) served as editorial coordinator.
  • Marcello Di Paola, environmental philosophy expert, contributed.
  • 13 artists/researchers participated: Armando Bramanti, Johanna Bruckner, Romeo Dell’Era, Francesco Dendena, Pauline Julier, Dominique Laleg, Charlotte Matter, Nastasia Meyrat, Real Madrid duo (Bianca Benenti Oriol, Marco Pezzotta), Kiri Santer, Urs August Steiner, Anaïs Wenger.
  • Director Joëlle Comé called it 'a very beautiful book where the diversity of contributions emerges'.
  • The publication blurs the line between book and magazine, described as 'slim and flexible'.
  • Published in 2020, 144 pages, €25, ISBN 97888880561040.

Entities

Artists

  • Armando Bramanti
  • Johanna Bruckner
  • Romeo Dell’Era
  • Francesco Dendena
  • Pauline Julier
  • Dominique Laleg
  • Charlotte Matter
  • Nastasia Meyrat
  • Bianca Benenti Oriol
  • Marco Pezzotta
  • Kiri Santer
  • Urs August Steiner
  • Anaïs Wenger
  • Saul Marcadent
  • Marcello Di Paola
  • Joëlle Comé
  • Valentina Muzi

Institutions

  • Istituto Svizzero
  • NERO Editions
  • IUAV di Venezia
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Villa Maraini
  • Rome
  • Italy
  • Venezia
  • Switzerland

Sources