If you happened to pass through Milan's Porta Nuova this week, you would have been forgiven for thinking you'd taken a wrong turn and somehow stumbled into the heart of rural Lombardy; for stretched out across 12 acres of land, a triangular field of wheat was being harvested by members of the public, armed with traditional scythes and flails as well as a combine harvester.
The rustic scene was in fact part of an installation by Agnes Denes that revisited the 'Wheatfield' project (opens in new tab) that the Hungarian-born American artist first realised 33 years ago, in New York's Battery Park. Invited to Milan by the Fondazione Riccardo Catella (opens in new tab) in partnership with Fondazione Nicola Trussardi (opens in new tab) and Confagricoltura, Denes' Milanese 'Wheatfield' set out to renew the ambition of the original project – to reconnect the urban community with the land and their agricultural history, building social engagement in the process.
Reclaiming this slice of urban land, Denes transported 15,500 cubic metres of soil to the area, along with 1250 kg of Odisseo variety seed and some 5000 kg of fertiliser. To create an authentic experience, and so as not to harm the surrounding residential neighbourhood, no herbicides or fungicides were employed in the process. Coinciding with Milan's World Expo, the seeds were sown in March, harvested this week and will eventually make way for a permanent park, the Biblioteca degli Alberi, or Library of Trees, come October.
First realised over 33 years ago in New York's Battery Park, Denes was invited to cultivate and harvest a field of wheat in the city by the Fondazione Riccardo Catella in partnership with Fondazione Nicola Trussardi and Confagricoltura. Pictured left: Beatrice Trussardi, president of the Fondazione Nicola Trussardi
Claiming a slice of urban land in Milan's Porta Nuova district, the work saw 15,500 cubic meters of soil transported to the area, along with 1250 kg of Odisseo variety seed and some 5000 kg of fertiliser
Having been sown earlier this year, the crop was harvested last week by members of the public, armed with traditional scythes and flails as well as a combine harvester
To create an authentic experience and so as not to harm the surrounding residential neighbourhood, no herbicides or fungicides were employed in the process
'Wheatfield' set out to renew the ambition of Denes' original 1982 project; to reconnect the urban community with the land and their agricultural history, while building community and social engagement in the process
The project will eventually make way for a permanent park, the Biblioteca degli Alberi, or Library of Trees, come October
-
Objects of Common Interest lights up rationalist Bergamo square‘Lights On’ is a new site-specific installation by Objects of Common Interest in Bergamo, part of the city’s Italian Capital of Culture 2023 programme
-
Berlinde de Bruyckere on religion, chaos and decay: ‘simplicity is the territory of humans’
Ahead of her show at Hauser & Wirth Zurich, Limmatstrasse we speak to Belgian sculptor and visual artist Berlinde de Bruyckere on her show ‘A simple prophecy,’ on from 26 January – 13 May 2023
-
Under-the-radar bag labels to know
From New Zealand to Japan, get to know the under-the-radar bag labels eschewing trends in favour of long-lasting good design
-
Venice Biennale 2022 closing review: who, how and what on earth?
As the sun sets on the 59th Venice Art Biennale (until 27 November), we look back on an edition filled with resilience, female power and unsurprisingly, lots of surprises
-
Bruce Nauman’s Venice mega-show is a full body experience
Focusing on the American artist's performative 'Contrapposto Studies', Bruce Nauman's show at Punta della Dogana, Venice, gives new meaning to body language – on view until 27 November 2022
-
Biennale Arcipelago Mediterraneo: reflections on Sicily’s history and futures
Opening against the backdrop of Italy’s snap general election, the third edition of the Biennale Arcipelago Mediterraneo in Palermo ruminates on past and present global conflicts, interwoven with stories from the Mediterranean
-
Mitico: art, luxury hospitality and home cooking collide in Italy
Spearheaded by the Belmond hotel group and Galleria Continua, new initiative Mitico introduces the work of four major artists on the grounds of four iconic Italian hotels
-
Ai Weiwei unveils first-ever exhibition of glass sculptures in Venice
On the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, Ai Weiwei unveils his first show of glass works, including one of the largest Murano glass sculptures ever
-
Jes Fan: the artist probing the intersections of biology, identity and creativity
Multidisciplinary artist Jes Fan uses fungi, bacteria and hormones to produce thought-provoking sculptures that explore how art and biology come together to break down social constructs. This article originally appeared in the August 2022 Issue of Wallpaper*, on newsstands now and available to subscribers
-
Flower power: Porsche’s immersive installation blooms at Milan Design Week
For ‘The Art of Dreams’, Porsche explores nature and technology with an immersive installation by botanical artist Ruby Barber of Studio Mary Lennox
-
Stanley Whitney’s Italian paintings reveal an art practice in transition
American abstract painter Stanley Whitney’s works from the 1990s to mid-2000s, made in Italy and now on display as a collateral event of the Venice Biennale 2022, show an evolution of form and colour
