Terra Animata Exhibition at Mattatoio di Roma Explores Human-Nature Relationship

The Mattatoio di Roma, a former slaughterhouse turned cultural venue, hosts 'Terra animata', a group exhibition examining the evolving relationship between humans and nature from the 1960s to today. Featuring about sixty works including paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, videos, and site-specific installations, the show creates an intergenerational dialogue. Master Italian artists such as Alberto Burri, Lucio Fontana, Mario Merz, Giuseppe Penone, and Gianfranco Baruchello are juxtaposed with emerging talents like Leone Contini (born 1976, Florence), Manuela Ascari (born 1977, Sassuolo), Renato Leotta (born 1982, Turin), and Pamela Diamante (born 1985, Bari). The works address themes of biodiversity, sustainability, rurality, and migration through diverse practices. The exhibition's setting in the rationalist slaughterhouse adds a layer of contrast, evoking both rigor and ghostly imagery, which amplifies the primal connection between art and space.