PRODUCED BY:
LA GALLERIA NAZIONALE, ROME
IN COLLABORATION WITH:
PARCO ARCHEOLOGICO DI OSTIA ANTICA, PALAZZO BARBERINI, MUSEO PIETRO CANONICA, GALLERIA BORGHESE AND MUSEI CAPITOLINI
Grafts is an art project rooted in the dialectic relationship between history, human migrations and the action of Homo Sapiens in nature.
Originating from the three countries comprising the three largest migrant communities settled in Rome as of 2023 –Romania, the Philippines, Bangladesh–, three foreign plant species are grafted onto plants native to Rome in order to follow the subsequent biological processes and observe whether the grafts prosper or fail.
First, three emblematic locations in Rome are established: Ostia Antica, Palazzo Barberini, and Museo Pietro Canonica. They will host the planting of the city’s native species: the fig tree and the grapevine. Specifically, Ficus carica and Vitis vinifera Malvasia puntinata, as they are known scientifically. Lastly, plants representative of these three communities are selected to be grafted onto the Roman plants: for Romania, Vitis vinifera Victoria; for the Philippines, Ficus benjamina; and for Bangladesh, Ficus elastica.
To complement the project, interviews were conducted with three representatives of the three migrant communities as well as with experts in the field both from a scientific and sociological point of view, as well as from the perspective of art history: Daniele Haver (gardener, in charge of the planting) Gerardo Fernández Medina (agronomist, in charge of the grafting), Oana Boşca-Mălin (representative of the Romanian community), Charito Basa (representative of the Filipino community), Rahman Safiquor (representative of the Bangladeshi community), as well as Francesca Cappelletti (director of Galleria Borghese), Costantino D'Orazio (Art Historian and art critic connected with Villa Borghese) and Federica Papi (curator of the Capitoline Museums.)
Originating from the three countries comprising the three largest migrant communities settled in Rome as of 2023 –Romania, the Philippines, Bangladesh–, three foreign plant species are grafted onto plants native to Rome in order to follow the subsequent biological processes and observe whether the grafts prosper or fail.
First, three emblematic locations in Rome are established: Ostia Antica, Palazzo Barberini, and Museo Pietro Canonica. They will host the planting of the city’s native species: the fig tree and the grapevine. Specifically, Ficus carica and Vitis vinifera Malvasia puntinata, as they are known scientifically. Lastly, plants representative of these three communities are selected to be grafted onto the Roman plants: for Romania, Vitis vinifera Victoria; for the Philippines, Ficus benjamina; and for Bangladesh, Ficus elastica.
To complement the project, interviews were conducted with three representatives of the three migrant communities as well as with experts in the field both from a scientific and sociological point of view, as well as from the perspective of art history: Daniele Haver (gardener, in charge of the planting) Gerardo Fernández Medina (agronomist, in charge of the grafting), Oana Boşca-Mălin (representative of the Romanian community), Charito Basa (representative of the Filipino community), Rahman Safiquor (representative of the Bangladeshi community), as well as Francesca Cappelletti (director of Galleria Borghese), Costantino D'Orazio (Art Historian and art critic connected with Villa Borghese) and Federica Papi (curator of the Capitoline Museums.)
Paralleling human migrations with the ancient technique of botanical grafting, the project explores the phenomenon of migration from an unprecedented perspective in which poetic metaphor converges with a didactic analysis of socioeconomic, scientific, and historical-artistic themes. This convergence underscores the difficulties and challenges faced by migrant communities, as well as the complexity of the plant environment and its analogues in human history. It also represents a challenge for the artist, who takes on a field of study in which he had no prior experience, his desire to learn being one of the project’s drivers.
The mixture of parallel narratives corresponds to the intersection of the topics addressed: the socioeconomic profiles of the countries of origin of the migrant communities that are the protagonists of the film complement the testimonies of each of the representatives of these communities and contrast with the scientific analysis of the plants, as well as with their relationship with a symbolic universe made evident in their presence in iconic works of art by such notable authors as Rubens or Caravaggio.
The analysis of the sites where the planting and grafting occurred –Ostia Antica, Palazzo Barberini and Museo Pietro Canonica– is also significant given their emblematic character and historical value, and adds an additional layer of meaning to a project realized in the sphere of visual arts, but which goes beyond it. Grafts both transcends and melds issues ranging from ethnobotany to human rights.
As a result of the project, a documentary film entitled Grafting, Rome 2023 was completed in 2025.
The mixture of parallel narratives corresponds to the intersection of the topics addressed: the socioeconomic profiles of the countries of origin of the migrant communities that are the protagonists of the film complement the testimonies of each of the representatives of these communities and contrast with the scientific analysis of the plants, as well as with their relationship with a symbolic universe made evident in their presence in iconic works of art by such notable authors as Rubens or Caravaggio.
The analysis of the sites where the planting and grafting occurred –Ostia Antica, Palazzo Barberini and Museo Pietro Canonica– is also significant given their emblematic character and historical value, and adds an additional layer of meaning to a project realized in the sphere of visual arts, but which goes beyond it. Grafts both transcends and melds issues ranging from ethnobotany to human rights.
As a result of the project, a documentary film entitled Grafting, Rome 2023 was completed in 2025.
Ostia Antica: Planting of Ficus Carica. Grafting of Ficus Elastica and Ficus Benjamina. |
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Museo Pietro Canonica: Grafting of a Victoria grapevine on a Malvasia Puntinata grapevine. |
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Palazzo Barberini: Planting of Ficus Carica and Malvasia Puntinata grapevines. Grafting of a Victoria grapevine and Ficus Elastica and Ficus Benjamina. |
ENTERVIEWEES
Charito Basa.
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Rahman Safiquor.
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Oana Boşca-Mălin. Vice-Director of the Romanian Academy in Rome.
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Technical/Scientific Team
Flavio Tarquini (botanist, Botanical Garden in Rome / professor, Università La Sapienza, Roma)
Valentino Casolo (botanist / professor, Università di Udine)
Daniele Haver (gardener)
Michael Haver (gardener)
Gerardo Fernández Medina (agronomist)
Documentation Team
Daniele Bracci (Camera Operator and Assistant Editor)
Emanuele Basso (amera Operator)
Roberto Ostuni (Camera Operator)
Mario Daniele Alonzo (Photographer)
Andrea Pau (Photographer)
Andrea Tolstoy D'Oria (Dron Operator)
Marco Tricarico (Dron Operator)
Nils Astrologo (Dron Operator)
Academic Team
Antonello Tolve (Curator and Art Historian)
Carmelo Russo (Anthropologist-Professor, Università La Sapienza, Roma)
Daniela De Leo (Università La Sapienza)
Francesco Pompeo Francesco Pompeo (Professor, Università Roma Tre)
Representatives of migrant communities
Oana Bosca-Malin Oana Boşca-Mălin (Deputy Director of the Academy of Romania / Representative of the Romanian community)
Charito Basa (Representative of the Philippines)
Safiquor Rahman (Representative of Bangladesh)
Galleria Nazionale – Production and Communication
Ilaria Mulas (Production Coordinator, first phase)
Giulia Lotti (Production Coordinator, first and second phases)
Marta Ferrara (Production Coordinator, second phase)
Alessio Boi (Communication-Social Media)
Parco Archeologico di Ostia Antica
Alessandro D'Alessio (Director)
Roberto Crivellaro (Technical Assistant)
Cinzia Morelli (Archaeological officer)
Alberto Tulli (Administrative Officer)
Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica - Barberini-Corsini - Palazzo Barberini
Flaminia Gennari Santori (Director)
Paola Guarnera (Promotion and Communication)
Dario Aureli (Technician)
Gabriele Mari (Technician)
Maura Garofalo (Gallery Assistant)
Elisabetta Guerriero (Gallery Assistant)
Maria Francesca Castaldo (Promotion and Communication)
Simona Baldi (Events)
Annarita Margani (Events)
Paola D'Alessio (Gallery Assistant)
Maria Bonmassar (Communication)
Museo Canonica
Carla Scicchitano (Responsible for Exhibitions and Cultural Events)
Costantino D'Orazio (Art Critic and Curator / Linked to the Museo Canonica)
Federica Pirani (Curator)
Gloria Raimondi (coordination and Updating of Exhibitions)
Isabella Toffoletti (Coordinator of Activities, External Relations, Communication and Special and Intersectoral Projects)
Antonio Plescia (Communication)
Galleria Borghese
Francesca Cappelletti (Director)
Gloria Antonelli (Officer)
Musei Capitolini
Claudio Parisi Presicce (Superintendent Capitolino at Beni Culturali)
Federica Papi (Curator Officer)
Flavio Tarquini (botanist, Botanical Garden in Rome / professor, Università La Sapienza, Roma)
Valentino Casolo (botanist / professor, Università di Udine)
Daniele Haver (gardener)
Michael Haver (gardener)
Gerardo Fernández Medina (agronomist)
Documentation Team
Daniele Bracci (Camera Operator and Assistant Editor)
Emanuele Basso (amera Operator)
Roberto Ostuni (Camera Operator)
Mario Daniele Alonzo (Photographer)
Andrea Pau (Photographer)
Andrea Tolstoy D'Oria (Dron Operator)
Marco Tricarico (Dron Operator)
Nils Astrologo (Dron Operator)
Academic Team
Antonello Tolve (Curator and Art Historian)
Carmelo Russo (Anthropologist-Professor, Università La Sapienza, Roma)
Daniela De Leo (Università La Sapienza)
Francesco Pompeo Francesco Pompeo (Professor, Università Roma Tre)
Representatives of migrant communities
Oana Bosca-Malin Oana Boşca-Mălin (Deputy Director of the Academy of Romania / Representative of the Romanian community)
Charito Basa (Representative of the Philippines)
Safiquor Rahman (Representative of Bangladesh)
Galleria Nazionale – Production and Communication
Ilaria Mulas (Production Coordinator, first phase)
Giulia Lotti (Production Coordinator, first and second phases)
Marta Ferrara (Production Coordinator, second phase)
Alessio Boi (Communication-Social Media)
Parco Archeologico di Ostia Antica
Alessandro D'Alessio (Director)
Roberto Crivellaro (Technical Assistant)
Cinzia Morelli (Archaeological officer)
Alberto Tulli (Administrative Officer)
Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica - Barberini-Corsini - Palazzo Barberini
Flaminia Gennari Santori (Director)
Paola Guarnera (Promotion and Communication)
Dario Aureli (Technician)
Gabriele Mari (Technician)
Maura Garofalo (Gallery Assistant)
Elisabetta Guerriero (Gallery Assistant)
Maria Francesca Castaldo (Promotion and Communication)
Simona Baldi (Events)
Annarita Margani (Events)
Paola D'Alessio (Gallery Assistant)
Maria Bonmassar (Communication)
Museo Canonica
Carla Scicchitano (Responsible for Exhibitions and Cultural Events)
Costantino D'Orazio (Art Critic and Curator / Linked to the Museo Canonica)
Federica Pirani (Curator)
Gloria Raimondi (coordination and Updating of Exhibitions)
Isabella Toffoletti (Coordinator of Activities, External Relations, Communication and Special and Intersectoral Projects)
Antonio Plescia (Communication)
Galleria Borghese
Francesca Cappelletti (Director)
Gloria Antonelli (Officer)
Musei Capitolini
Claudio Parisi Presicce (Superintendent Capitolino at Beni Culturali)
Federica Papi (Curator Officer)