Silvia Cini's Orchid Mapping Project Blooms at Budapest Botanical Garden

Silvia Cini, born in Pisa in 1972, has emerged as the winner of the 11th edition of the Italian Council, which supports the promotion of Italian artists internationally. Her exhibition, titled 'Avant que la nature meure' (Before Nature Dies), is currently showcased at the ELTE Botanical Garden in Budapest and will remain open until August 14. This project is inspired by 19th-century illustrations by Enrico Coleman and focuses on the study of wild orchids in urban settings. Cini has created a digital map of spontaneous orchids in Rome, referencing Coleman's watercolors from 1893 to 1910. The initiative includes various phases—'online', 'on life', and 'offline'—and encourages public participation through open calls. Following its Budapest showing, the project will continue its journey throughout Europe. The title alludes to Jean Dorst's 1965 work on environmental conservation.