Workshop – “Cultivating the Idea of Biodiversity: The Arts and Their Languages for an Ecological Engagement in the Public Space”
The international workshop entitled “Cultivating the Idea of Biodiversity: The Arts and Their Languages for an Ecological Engagement in the Public Space” was held on June 6th and 7th, 2023, at the University of Palermo. The workshop, coordinated by Professor Elisabetta Di Stefano, was promoted by EVAnet in collaboration with the National Biodiversity Future Centre and focused on the concept of biodiversity from a multidisciplinary perspective, intertwining the languages of science and the arts.
The primary objective was to establish a methodological and conceptual framework that recognizes biodiversity as a transversal element of sustainable culture and living.
To achieve this, the workshop featured a three-way dialogue involving philosophers (Emily Brady and Endre Szécsényi), art historians (Peter Schneemann and Carolina Fernández-Castrillo), as well as scientists (Gianluca Sarà, Sabrina Lo Brutto, and Giuseppe Venturella), who served as keynote speakers.
In the final session, local artists Laura Pitingaro and Sasha Vinci, who are actively engaged in biodiversity-related themes, presented their works to a wider audience. Recognizing the growing importance of arts and philosophy in reshaping our approach to sustainability issues, the workshop aimed to foster a multidisciplinary dialogue, stimulate ideas, and plan future activities.
Humanistic reflection on biodiversity plays a crucial role in the contemporary debate, and identifying artistic languages capable of effectively communicating climate-related concerns presents a challenge that the humanities must face.
