The exhibition project for Palazzo Zerbi is proposed as a model in which art is not only an object of consumption or market but part of a sustainable cultural system that actively involves artists, the public and institutions. The idea of ​​an ecological art is based on the need to create virtuous circuits that favor the accessibility, sharing and duration of the works over time. Through this triple articulation the exhibition intends to underline the importance of a complete cycle for contemporary art: from production to diffusion, up to conservation and valorization. The spaces of Palazzo Zerbi welcome and put these three elements in dialogue, creating a path that highlights the complementarity between the artists' work, their public visibility and the need for a collection commitment, to guarantee the permanence of the works over time. The exhibition is divided into three interconnected sections presenting artists from Reggio Calabria, the "poster 3500 cm" project and a selection of works from the Cataldo Colella collection. The section dedicated to a selection of artists linked to Reggio Calabria represents the vitality of artistic research in the territory, with the intention of enhancing their contribution to the contemporary scene. Another section explores the role of diffusion in contemporary art through 3500 cm, an international project that uses the poster format to promote the work of artists in an accessible and democratic space. This part of the exhibition highlights the importance of artistic dissemination and the possibility of taking art outside of traditional institutions. Finally, a third section presents a selection of works from the Cataldo Colella collection, offering a perspective on collecting as a tool for the conservation and enhancement of contemporary art. The collection represents an archive of artistic experiences, demonstrating the value of private collection in the construction of cultural memory. Therefore, the project for Villa Zerbi fits fully into a broader reflection on the ecology of contemporary art, understood not only as environmental sustainability but also as a cultural ecosystem, in which the production, diffusion and conservation of art influence each other.

Lorenzo Benedetti