The Cultural Association Radiceterna Arte e Ambiente, in collaboration with the University Museum System (SiMuA),
PRESS RELEASE

is pleased to present the solo exhibition of the artist Ignazio Mortellaro, fourth appointment of the Radiceterna Arte Ambiente
project and series of exhibitions, inside the Calidarium of the Botanical Gardens of the University of Palermo.
As the conclusion of the first series of exhibitions (Allora & Calzadilla, Katinka Bock, Björn Braun) the fourth event in the
project-room at the Calidarium, is a solo show by the artist Ignazio Mortellaro who is among the founders of the Radiceterna
project, together with curator Valentina Bruschi and with the artistic coordination of Vittorio Rappa. As stated in the
title of the exhibition, taken from a verse by the poet Giuseppe Ungaretti, the artist aims to “objectify” the term “desert”,
understood as landscape, place of extreme atomization, a fluid and free space, whose mutations makes it a dizzying labyrinth
“which has no stairways to climb, nor walls to impede thy passage.” (as in the story, The Two Kings and the Two Labyrinths, “The
Aleph” by Jorge Luis Borges). Literary and geographical references that become metaphors referencing time and its many
forms and dimensions. With these ideas in mind, Ignazio Mortellaro has created a new series of works designed specifically
for this particular exhibition space: a series of photographic collages, bronze and brass sculptures plus a video. This last work
is the result of a collaboration with the musician Lucy, brother of the artist and protagonist of the inaugural live set.
The book/catalogue, published by Hopefulmonster and produced for the occasion in the series of monographs designed
for Radiceterna, contains texts by Valentina Bruschi, Beatrice Merz, Ruggero Ragonese, Giuseppina Vara and a selection of
images of Ignazio Mortellaro’s works.
Biography: Ignazio Mortellaro (1978, born in Palermo where he lives and works). From the themes he deals with and the
cultural references in his work it is clear that Ignazio Mortellaro’s research method is of the scientific-philosophical type, and
that it proceeds from his experience towards the articulation of an idea of the relationship between Man and Nature. Calipers
and measuring instruments fill his studio: ancient and modern devices used for the maps the artist traces on metal or etches
on glass. Topographical instruments which refer to a complex, yet concrete knowledge – linked to the Earth – create artificial
horizons distant from one another, created by joining landscapes constructed using photographs from archives: mental visions
that represent an interiorized space of freedom, a dialogue between the “self ” and the world. During the creation of Ignazio
Mortellaro’s works there is always music playing in the background and, at times, sound even becomes a part of the work itself.
In 2018 Ignazio Mortellaro created, Ttzitz Chu’i, a site specific installation for the garden of the Fondazione Merz in Turin
and in 2015, Overturning Moment, a permanent work for PARC01 Binario Contemporaneo, Siracuse. Amongst the recent solo
shows: Galleria Francesco Pantaleone (2017, 2015, 2014); Spazio 22 (2017) and in 2017 he participated in the 10th edition
of Cetate Arts Danube Centre, Artists in Residence. The group shows include: Same same but different, Kunst Meran Merano Arte and
Museo Civico di Castelbuono (2018); Due South, the Delaware Contemporary, Wilmington (2017), Quando il paesaggio è in ascolto,
Riso Museo d’arte Contemporanea della Sicilia, Palermo (2015), Progetto italiano #2. “La religione del mio tempo”. Kunsthalle
Eurocenter Lana, Bolzano (2014), Aziza, ZAC – Zisa Zona Arti Contemporanee, Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa, Palermo (2013).
Radiceterna Arte Ambiente
Ignazio Mortellaro’s solo show is part of the project inaugurated on May 19th, Radiceterna Biblioteca Arte Ambiente, which consists
in the creation of a permanent library, built thanks to Planeta’s support within the Calidarium, an eighteenth-century
building of the Botanical Gardens, with a collection of books by national and international publishing houses curated by
Eveline Wüthrich (co-founder and coordinator of “I Never Read, Art Book Fair Basel”) and an exhibition space for the study
and research on the themes of Art and Nature.
Radiceterna also comprises a project room, opened on the occasion of Manifesta12 contemporary art biennial hosted in
Palermo, with a programme of four exhibitions (Allora & Calzadilla, Katinka Bock, Björn Braun, Ignazio Mortellaro),
curated by Valentina Bruschi and Ignazio Mortellaro, with the artistic coordination of Vittorio Rappa. The project
is inspired by Pliny the Elder’s, Naturalis Historiae, a collection of 37 books that deal, in an encyclopaedic of Man and Nature,
written around 77 - 79 AD. Some passages taken from the monumental work of Pliny are shown in the inscriptions inside the
octagonal hall of the Gymnasium, the central building of the Botanical Garden.
The title of the project, Radiceterna Biblioteca Arte Ambiente, curated by Valentina Bruschi, Ignazio Mortellaro, Eveline Wüthrich
and Vittorio Rappa, refers to a significant 1984 neon work by the artist Mario Merz (1925-2003), Se la forma scompare la sua
radice è eterna (If the Form Disappears its Root is Eternal), inspired by the verses of the thirteenth century Persian poet Gialal
al-Din Rumi, installed outside the Calidarium, as a special outdoor project powered by Fondazione Merz.

On the occasion of the four openings of the exhibitions, Radiceterna promotes a series of live performances of avant-
garde electronic music curated by Luca Mortellaro, aka Lucy, founder of the Berlin record label Stroboscopic

Artefacts, now a seminal reality in the underground world scene. Lucy will execute the final live ambient performance of
this year’s series on October 10th 2018.
Radiceterna is part of the Collateral Events of Manifesta12, European Biennial of Contemporary Art, and within the
programme of Palermo Capitale della Cultura 2018.
The fourth exhibition of the programme Radiceterna Arte Ambiente, from Pliny’s V book (Geography of Africa, Middle East,
Cappadocia, Kingdom of Armenia, Cilicia), And I am already desert - Ignazio Mortellaro, will be open from Monday to Friday 10.00 am -
1.00 pm and 4.00 pm - 8.00 pm; Saturday 10.00 am - 1.00 pm until November 4th 2018 with entrance ticket to the Botanical
Gardens or Manifesta 12.
On Wednesday October 10th, due to the limited capacity of the space which hosts us, access to the Calidarium will be open to
20 people at the time and guaranteed for those who have the Manifesta 12 local season pass or entrance ticket to the Botanical
Gardens. Spaces for Lucy’s live act are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Please note the ticket office of the Botanical Gardens closes at 6pm so we recommend maximum punctuality!