Coal Alchemy. Exploring Biochar in Art

Collective exhibition of contemporary artEdited by Velia LitteraCritical text by Eugenia QuerciIn collaboration with Rita Salimbeni (journalist) and Katia Paoletti (Gart-GardenArt Association)

Terzo Paradiso, symbol of infinity created by master Michelangelo Pistoletto, will be made in Biochar. "Art and sustainability come together in a single vision, illuminating the path towards a better future" The artists invited by curator Velia Littera will create works of art using Biochar as the main material or integrated into their creations. The "Alchemy of Carbon" exhibition celebrates the intersection of art and sustainability, presenting an eclectic collection of artworks created with Biochar. Each work tells a unique story, combining aesthetics with the ecological message, inviting the public to reflect on our relationship with nature and the need to adopt more sustainable practices. Sculptures, paintings, ceramics, photographs as symbols of the profound connection between man and the environment. The artists experimented with the shapes and materiality of Biochar, creating works of art that seem to come from a parallel world, where time and space merge into a single artistic dimension. With their hands immersed in charcoal, the artists molded and shaped new forms, bringing their artistic vision to life. It will be an engaging and sensorial experience that transforms the spectator from a simple observer to an active participant as they will also have the opportunity to touch it, smell it, experience it. Artwork made with Biochar leaves an indelible imprint on minds and hearts, inspiring us to be responsible stewards of the earth we call home. "Alchemy of coal" is not just an art exhibition, but an exciting journey through art and nature, an invitation to rediscover the magic of the world around us and to commit ourselves to preserving it for future generations. Biochar was born 8000 years ago when the populations of the Amazon discovered how to improve the fertility of their soils and increase their productivity by creating horizontal charcoal pits covered with earth. This ancient technique gave birth to modern Biochar. The benefits of Biochar: according to several studies, planting Biochar brings great benefits to agriculture, such as increasing productivity from 20{4eb735329142640f8adee08ac6351a82809ade6b902f73690d64c5dc7de855d0} to 200{4eb735329142640f8adee08ac6351a82809ade6b902f73690d64c5dc7de855d0}, permanent fertilization of poor soils, repairing degraded land, saving water and l cancellation of fertilizers. Biochar is vegetal charcoal obtained from forest cuttings. Burying Biochar therefore means carbon sequestration, water storage, maintenance of the soil in fertile conditions, concrete reduction of CO2 emissions, increase in nutrients available to plants, improvement of drainage and certified healthy food. If you observe Biochar with a magnifying glass, you can see that it has an alveolar structure: its microscopic alveoli are colonized by soil bacteria, making the nutrients from the digestion of the bacterial colonies available to the roots of the plants.

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