EXHIBITIONS

Plants are often perceived as static life forms and, for the broader public, not particularly compelling. Yet certain species possess extraordinary adaptations that capture the attention of both the curious and the passionate observer.

The exhibition “Warrior Plants” presents the stories of selected species that have evolved distinctive strategies for survival and adaptation.

This botanical journey introduces a range of extreme plants. We follow the oceanic routes traced by the seeds of Entada gigas, a colonizing liana known for its enormous pods. We descend into the turbid waters of the Amazon River to examine the expansive strategies of the magnificent and dominant Victoria amazonica, the largest water lily in the world. In the dim rainforests of Borneo, we uncover the predatory mechanisms and symbiotic relationships of carnivorous Nepenthes species. Finally, we travel to South Africa to encounter a botanical “vampire”: Hydnora africana, a plant that has developed extraordinary adaptations to withstand the harshness of desert environments.

The brief for this exhibition involved the creation of four illustrated plates dedicated to plants with remarkable survival adaptations in the wild. In addition, four animated videos were produced to further explore and communicate the distinctive biological features of the illustrated species.

This exhibition seeks to expand knowledge and offer a renewed perspective on a group of animals that is often misunderstood by the general public: amphibians. Throughout their evolutionary history, amphibians have been confronted with a persistent biological constraint; their dependence on water. This limitation is particularly evident in mating strategies and parental care, phases during which these animals exhibit heightened vulnerability. The exhibition explores the extraordinary adaptive solutions developed by various species to overcome these challenges.

The first edition of AMPHIBIA was hosted at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria in Genoa from 25 November 2023 to 26 May 2024, attracting over 16,000 visitors. Future editions are scheduled to be presented in additional natural history museums across Italy. The exhibition also includes live specimens, serving as a powerful instrument for public engagement, awareness, and education.

The AMPHIBIA SERIES is a collection of scientific illustrations and museum panels designed to communicate and document some of the most remarkable mating behaviors among amphibians worldwide. To date, the series comprises eight species and forms an integral part of the broader exhibition project conceived by Emanuele Biggi and Francesco Tomasinelli.

I was commissioned by the project’s creators to produce eight illustrated panels, depicting the distinctive reproductive strategies of eight key species: Hemiphractus fasciatus, Rhinoderma darwinii, Siphonops annulatus, Breviceps adspersus, Andrias japonicus, Pyxicephalus adspersus, Pipa pipa, Ascaphus truei.

In addition, in collaboration with my project partner, I developed eight animated videos to further explore and communicate the unique reproductive characteristics of the illustrated taxa.

Cetaceans are among the most admired animals by the general public. Charismatic and graceful, they naturally evoke strong empathy. Yet their popularity does not necessarily correspond to the health of their populations. The past decades have proven crucial for cetacean conservation; a reality well recognized by research and conservation institutions.

On the occasion of the 58th edition of Barcolana, the annual international regatta held in Trieste, a citizen science initiative dedicated to the cetaceans of the Adriatic Sea was developed by the Area Marina Protetta di Miramare (WWF Italia), in collaboration with the Schmidt Ocean Institute and the Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica.

The project included a thematic exhibition pathway and the production of species identification materials, with the objective of actively engaging the citizens of Trieste in the sighting, recognition, and monitoring of both resident and transient cetacean species within the Gulf of Trieste.

The brief required the creation of comparative infographics illustrating the cetacean species present in the Adriatic Sea. These materials were produced both as foldable A3 identification sheets and as large-scale exhibition panels extending several meters in length.