Manifesta 12 Palermo biennial concept unveiled: The Planetary Garden. Cultivating Coexistence.
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Manifesta 12 Palermo biennial concept unveiled:
The Planetary Garden. Cultivating Coexistence.
Rome, 27 November 2017 | Under embargo until 27 November 2017
Manifesta 12 Creative Mediators Bregtje van der Haak, Andrés Jaque, Ippolito Pestellini
Laparelli and Mirjam Varadinis have unveiled the concept for the upcoming Manifesta
12 biennial in Palermo, opening on 16 June 2018 until 4 November 2018.
The concept was announced during a press conference in Rome on 27 November, with
introductions by the Italian Minister of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Dario Franceschini,
the Director and Founder of Manifesta Hedwig Fijen, the Mayor of Palermo Leoluca
Orlando, and Palermo’s Councilor of Culture Andrea Cusumano.
Manifesta 12, taking place in Palermo in 2018, is the latest installment of the world’s only
nomadic biennial of contemporary art and culture. Throughout its 11 editions, Manifesta
has always been politically and socially engaged, beyond producing an experimental
and emerging art experience. From Ljubljana in 2000, Trentino and South Tyrol in 2008
and Saint-Petersburg in 2014 to Manifesta 12 Palermo in 2018 and Manifesta 13 Marseille
in 2020, Manifesta has consistently chosen unexpected host locations that reflect the
changing DNA of Europe and shed new light on its key issues and transformations.
Palermo is an excellent host city in this context, allowing Manifesta 12 to continue its
story of decoding Europe. On the one hand, Manifesta 12 will investigate contemporary
challenges from Palermo’s perspective as the Mediterranean hub. On the other, it will
attempt to mobilise the existing energy of the city through intensive education
programmes, Manifesta’s international network and long-term projects that will kick-off
during the biennial but, hopefully, create a sustainable impact after Manifesta.
1
“Today biennials should be more than the sum of a series of exhibitions. The
added value of Manifesta 12 is the fact that the biennial programme takes place in
2018 in the Sicilian city of Palermo, where important geopolitical, social and
ecological realities of our times are arising. For Manifesta 12, Palermo constitutes the
deep complexities that people worldwide are facing. We hope that Manifesta 12
creates new perspectives in terms of staging the immaterial and material legacy for
the future of the city.”
Director and Founder of Manifesta, Hedwig Fijen
“Palermo is currently taking on the role of a cultural model, where culture does
not only connect people with each other, but also to other communities. In Palermo’s
history, coexistence has always been an everyday practice, more than just an idea or
an intention. This is the reason why Manifesta 12 will be an integral and fundamental
part of the programme of Palermo Capitale della Cultura Italiana, because Palermo,
as we say, is the capital of "cultures": cultures that have found in our city the place for
their own coexistence, dialogue and mutual enrichment.
Mayor of Palermo, Leoluca Orlando
“As a widespread and participatory event, Manifesta 12 will provide a great
opportunity to deeply engage with the social realm of Palermo, its different
neighbourhoods and all its citizens. It will undeniably contribute to making Palermo
not only a capital of Italian culture, but also a capital of European culture at large.”
Councilor of Culture of the City of Palermo, Andrea Cusumano
"Palermo is in itself a capital at the heart of the Mediterranean. It has
managed to gain new importance, because of its growth in the fields of culture and
tourism. I am sure that such an excellent cultural event as Manifesta 12, along with
the many activities, which are part of the programme of Palermo Capitale della
Cultura Italiana 2018, will make Palermo and Sicily even more vibrant and attractive
to the entire world. "
Italian Minister of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, Dario Franceschini
2
Manifesta 12 Palermo Concept
For a full overview of the concept and its components, please see the curatorial text by Manifesta 12
Creative Mediators in the annex 1 (page 17).
Veduta di Palermo, Francesco Lojacono, 1875, Palermo Atlas, courtesy OMA
Titled “The Planetary Garden. Cultivating Coexistence”, the concept explores coexistence
in a world moved by invisible networks, transnational private interests, algorithmic
intelligence and ever-increasing inequalities through the unique lens of Palermo – a
crossroads of three continents in the heart of the Mediterranean. Closely collaborating
with Palermitan partners, Manifesta 12 will co-inhabit Palermo as a laboratory to
investigate the challenges of our time and look for traces of possible futures.
Throughout history, the City of Palermo has been a laboratory for diversity and cross-
pollination, shaped by continuous migration. In the 1875 painting by Francesco Lojacono,
View of Palermo (in the collection of the GAM Museum in Palermo), nothing was
indigenous. Olive trees came from Asia, aspen from the Middle East and eucalyptus from
Australia. Citrus trees – the symbol of Sicily - were introduced under Arab sovereignty.
3
The botanical garden of Palermo, Orto Botanico, was founded in 1789 as a laboratory to
nurture, test, mix and gather diverse species. Inspired by Palermo’s Orto Botanico,
Manifesta 12 will look at the idea of the “garden”, exploring its capacity to aggregate
difference and to compose life out of movement and migration.
Gardens are places where diverse forms of life mix and adapt to co-exist. They allow for
cross-pollination based on encounter. In 1997, French Botanist Gilles Clément described
the world as a “planetary garden” with humanity in charge of being its gardener. Twenty
years later, Manifesta 12 will revisit the metaphor of the “garden”, not as a space for
humans to take control, but rather as a site where “gardeners” recognise their
dependency on other species, and respond to climate, time, or an array of social factors,
in a shared responsibility.
“The Planetary Garden. Cultivating Coexistence” will host 4 main sections, each touching
on key topics of the concept: Garden of Flows, Out of Control Room, City on Stage and
Teatro Garibaldi as the main center of Manifesta 12 (currently hosting a
pre-biennial programme “Aspettando Manifesta 12” – Waiting for Maniefsta 12).
Palermo Atlas by OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture)
The Manifesta 12 concept was extracted from the city itself through a preliminary phase
of investigation by OMA, Palermo Atlas. It was the first time that Manifesta had kicked-
off the biennial with a research by an architecture office. The goal was to have a deeper
understanding of social, cultural and geographical textures of the city; highlight its
existing opportunities; and provide a source for audiences to understand contemporary
transformations through “the eyes” of Palermo.
“Palermo Atlas is a study of the past and present city, a collection of patterns,
perceptions, stories and testimonies gathered on the ground and supported by data.
On the one hand, the Atlas uses the city of Palermo as a point of departure to tell the
story of the Mediterranean and Europe at large; on the other it is a reflection on
characteristics that are specific to Palermo. Together with artists and other
practitioners, we walked the city with dozens of individual ‘Palermitani’ who toured us
through samples and sections of their city, visiting over 100 sites ranging in character,
history, cultural, civic and social relevance. The collection of journeys, stories and
encounters has allowed us to approach the many milieus existing within Palermo and
to start ascertaining its complexity. Out of this engagement, Manifesta 12 is partnering
with Palermo to mobilise those who live there and to leave a lasting legacy.”
Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli on Palermo Atlas, Manifesta 12 Creative Mediator
and Partner at OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture)
4
Palermo Atlas will be published in print and e-book formats in 2018. In addition, it will
be represented in the main Manifesta 12 biennial programme. Currently, the Atlas can
be viewed at Manifesta 12 headquarter in Palermo, Teatro Garibaldi.
Parcours
Along with the biennial programme itself, Manifesta 12 parcours will invite local and
international audiences to discover the material and immaterial heritage of Palermo.
Visitors will have a choice of enjoying an accessible and walkable parcours or venturing
further into the city to explore some of the long-term projects designed to create a
tangible legacy for Palermitans.
“Manifesta 12’s thematic and geographic organisation are intertwined, triggering a
journey through the city like a section through its anatomy: from the abandoned and
derelict heritage of the historical centre, to the failed utopia of the periphery; from the
glorious history of its gardens to its neglected and toxic coast.”
Manifesta 12 Creative Mediators
Further parcours details will be released in the coming months as the programme
evolves.
Interdisciplinary approach
One of the key characteristics of “The Planetary Garden” concept and Manifesta 12 at
large is an interdisciplinary approach. Manifesta 12 is the first edition to include not only
traditional art curators, but an interdisciplinary group of specialists in the curatorial team.
Bregtje van der Haak is a renowned Dutch journalist and filmmaker; Andrés Jaque is a
Spanish architect, founder of the Office for Political Innovation and professor at
Columbia University; Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli is a Sicilian-born architect and partner
at OMA/AMO, and Mirjam Varadinis is a Swiss contemporary art curator at Kunsthaus
Zurich.
This curatorial model was necessary to understand how to decode Palermo in all its
complexities and amplify the already existing energy of the city in experimental ways.
Each of the Manifesta 12 Creative Mediators have used their respective expertise and
background to contribute to the biennial programme. This will be evident through the
diversity of projects in Manifesta 12 that will extend beyond contemporary art into
5
architecture, public space, science, geography, agronomy, literature, food, cinema,
anthropology, social design, storytelling and more. Further details on the Manifesta 12
participants and projects will be unveiled as the biennial approaches its opening.
Local production and collaborations
Manifesta 12’s main objective is to act as an incubator for Palermo and engage with local
groups and professionals who are involved in local production, activism and cultural
collaboration. The Creative Mediators choose to be “radically local in engaging with the
city in all of its diverse components”, instigating a dialogue between Manifesta 12
participants and local communities, as well as mobilising local partners through all
stages of the biennial development. In addition to this, Manifesta 12 will attempt to
connect Palermo’s existing energy with an international network to contextualise the
city’s issues on a larger mental map.
Some of these collaborations have already started to take shape, such as the agreement
with the University of Palermo, which will include exchange between local and
international students on joint research projects, and learning opportunities for UNIPA
students within the Manifesta 12 framework. For example, Manifesta 12 is currently
hosting a shared research project with the students of Utrecht School of Arts and
University of Palermo, which is part of the students’ curriculum. More projects will come
from this co-lab in the coming months. Soon, Manifesta 12 will begin the collaboration
with the students of Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia.
This October, Creative Mediator Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli has initiated academic
research studios bringing together four celebrated schools of architecture: Architectural
Association School of Architecture from London, Royal College of Arts from London, Delft
University of Technology and University of Palermo. Each studio will investigate, reflect
and propose future scenarios for Palermo, freely based on the Palermo Atlas by OMA
and the curatorial proposal by the Creative Mediators.
Manifesta 12’s Department of Education has launched Education Hub in collaboration
with the University of Palermo, Academy of Fine Arts and the local transport company
AMAT. The hub is a travelling education platform to reach out to and engage with various
communities in neighborhoods of Palermo. Under the guidance of Madrid-based
architectural bureau ENORME Studio recommended by Creative Mediator Andrés
Jaque, students of UNIPA and Academy of Fine Arts will radically transform a city bus
donated by AMAT for the project. The Education Hub is supported by DGAAP, the
Contemporary Art and Architecture Department of the Italian Ministry of Cultural
Heritage and Tourism.
6Aside from these preliminary collaborations, Manifesta 12 has introduced a new parallel
programme in addition to the traditional Manifesta Collateral Events, called 5x5x5. The
programme is designed to foster an exchange and networking between local and
international cultural spheres, inviting national and international artists, schools and
galleries to feature a pop-up project in Palermo in collaboration with a local professional
or organisation. This includes 5 artists-in-residence, 5 pop-up gallery shows and 5
summer schools during Manifesta 12 in Palermo. Each project has to actively involve local
communities and professionals as the selection requirement. Manifesta 12 is currently
inviting proposals for participation, more information can be found on:
http://m12.manifesta.org/how-to-participate/
Venues
Teatro Garibaldi: Main Meeting Point, HQ & Public Programme Venue
Manifesta 12 Palermo, Teatro Garibaldi, 2017. Photo by CAVE Studio
Together with the City of Palermo, Manifesta 12 has inaugurated its first major venue in
July 2017, one year ahead of the biennial’s opening. After a period of inactivity and
inaccessibility to public, an iconic historical theatre Teatro Garibaldi reopened its doors
7with a special pre-biennial programme “Aspettando Manifesta 12” (Waiting for Manifesta
12). The programme invites Palermitans to pro-actively learn about Manifesta and share
ideas about the future of their city. It features an archival exhibition on past Manifesta
editions; a library with a dedicated kids section; an all-day café; and a programme of
activities including free guided tours, creative workshops with artists, film screenings,
Manifesta 12 Cook & Talk social dinners and diverse collaborations with local festivals and
organisations. The archival Manifesta Cultural Histories exhibition is on view until the end
of December 2017, while the Aspettando Manifesta 12 pre-biennial programme will
continue into the next year, with a free entrance.
During the biennial, Teatro Garibaldi will function as the main hospitality and meeting
point for Manifesta 12, enhancing the café and library with ticket sales, retail and visitor
welcome points. It will also host the public programme, including debates, workshops
and film screenings.
Teatro Garibaldi is located in the Kalsa neighborhood of Palermo, a historical Arab
quarter built in the 9th century and characterised by a dense network of orthogonal
streets. Teatro Garibaldi has a long and complex history of over 150 years. Originally built
in the gardens of Palazzo Ajutamicristo and later expanded by Moncada family, Teatro
Garibaldi was transformed into a daytime wooden theatre by a musician and composer
Pietro Cutrera and was inaugurated on August 15, 1861. The newspapers of the time
mention that Garibaldi himself attended “Romeo and Juliette” in the theatre in 1862.
Between the first and second World Wars, the theatre faced a period of abandonment,
occasionally hosting boxing matches. From 1966 till 1970, the theatre went through
different hands and was eventually closed in 1970s, significantly deteriorating in the next
decade. In 1983, the City of Palermo acquired Teatro Garibaldi, re-inaugurating it as an
active theatre in 1996 with the Hamlet by Carlo Cecchi. Led by artistic director Matteo
Bavera, in the next decade the theatre featured productions and co-productions with
Carlo Cecchi, Emma Dante, Peter Brook and Wim Wenders, who also shot a scene of his
film “Palermo Shooting” there.
In 2007, the theatre closed for renovation, which was completed in 2009 including the
restoration of the ceiling frescoes visible today. In the following years, Teatro Garibaldi
has been subject to vandalism, theft and degradation. From 2012 until 2014, over 60
artists, workers and performers occupied the theatre until it was entrusted to Matteo
Bavera for 7 months in 2014. After a period of inactivity, Teatro Garibaldi re-opened in
2017 as the Manifesta 12 headquarters hosting the “Aspettando Manifesta 12” cultural
programme. The City of Palermo and Manifesta 12 will look for local partners to take over
the theatre after the closure of the biennial.
8Piazza Magione: Community Projects
Manifesta 12 Palermo, Piazza Magione, 2017. Photo by CAVE Studio
Along with Teatro Garibaldi, the nearby Piazza Magione will provide an extension of the
activities launched by the theatre during summer months and will be used as an open-
air stage for community-based projects, summer cinema and artistic intervention in
public space.
The piazza, named after the homonymous Basilica La Magione on the south-east side of
the square, is located in close proximity to Teatro Garibaldi. During the Arab dominance
of Sicily, the square was reputedly a lush garden of the Fatimide dynasty. It was
significantly damaged by World War 2 bombings, including a complete destruction of
the square’s surrounding palazzos. In recent years, the City of Palermo has carried out
renovations in Piazza Magione, including a new soccer field for the neighbourhood, and
a central meadow with pedestrian pathways built on restored foundations of pre-
existing buildings. Manifesta 12 will attempt to further contribute to the revitalisation of
the square as a neighborhood meeting point, through temporary and long-term
interventions.
Historical and architectural insights about Teatro Garibaldi and Piazza Magione were generously provided by
Professors Giovanni Fatta, Tiziana Campisi and Calogero Vinci, author of "The Garibaldi Theatre in Palermo and the
construction of minor historical theatres" (Department of Architecture of the University of Palermo).
9Chiesa dei Santi Euno e Giuliano
Manifesta 12 Palermo, Chiesa dei Santi Euno e Giuliano, 2017. Photo by CAVE Studio
In addition to Teatro Garibaldi and Piazza Magione, the nearby 17th century church of
Saint Euno and Giuliano will also feature the programme of Manifesta 12. The church
was partially destroyed during World War 2 and recently restored by the City of Palermo.
Orto Botanico di Palermo: “Garden of Flows”
The Botanical Garden of Palermo, Orto Botanico di Palermo, is the key inspiration for the
Manifesta 12 concept “The Planetary Garden. Cultivating Coexistence”. It will host one of
the 4 main sections of the Manifesta 12 biennial - Garden of Flows - exploring toxicity,
plant life and the politics of gardening in relation to tending the transnational commons.
Further details and projects of this section will be released in the beginning of 2018.
Orto Botanico is an institution of the University of Palermo, open to the public. The
garden was built in 1789 and inaugurated in December of 1795. It features a complex of
three historical buildings: Gymnasium – a central pavilion and the seat of the Schola
Regia Botanices, the Calidarium and the Tepidarium. The buildings were designed by a
French architect Leòn Dufourny. The Winter Garden, the Tineo room and the garden’s
current entrance were designed by Carlo Giachery, dating back to the 19th century.
10Orto Botanico, Palermo Atlas, 2017. Photo by Delfino Sisto Legnani, courtesy OMA
Orto Botanico consists of a series of collections that are organised and identified based
on scientific classification, also taking into account the aesthetic and landscaping
criteria. The garden is divided into the following sections: The Linnaean system, the
Engler system, the Succulent Collection, the Useful Plants Section, the Cycadales
complex, the Palmetum, the Mediterranean Hill, the Experimental and Biogeographical
Sections. One of the main sights is an impressive 500-square meter circular pool
(Aquarium) for water lilies, consisting of 24 compartments with different depths.
History and description of Orto Botanico are kindly provided by Orto Botanico di Palermo
11Palazzo Butera
Manifesta 12 Palermo, Palazzo Butera, 2017. Photo by CAVE Studio
The magnificent Palazzo Butera of Palermo, located in the historical Kalsa district, is the
first palazzo to be released as the venue of Manifesta 12. The details of the biennial
programme featured in the palace will be revealed at a later stage.
Palazzo Butera’s architecture dates back to the 18th century. The palace belonged to the
noble family of Branciforte with an investment support from principles of Butera. The
original drawings of the Palace by architect Giacomo Amato can be found in the Palazzo
Abatellis Sicilian Regional Gallery.
After a large part of the interior was destroyed by a fire in 1737, the Prince Ercole Michele
Branciforti expanded Palazzo Butera by renting out a nearby palace overlooking the
square of San Niccolò and owned by the Duke of Verdura, and by purchasing the palace
of Francesco Moncada, count of Caltanisetta. It was from this point that Palazzo Butera
had acquired its monumental dimensions, second only to the Royal Palace of Palermo.
Italian painters Gioacchino Martorana and Gaspare Fumagalli were commissioned to
12decorate the palace, indulging figurations and quadrature ornaments using a trompe
l’oeil technique.
From the 19th century onward, the palace had undergone various internal and external
transformations and extensions initiated by various principles. In the 20th century, the
palace lost its private residence status and went through profound changes, especially
on the second floor. In 2015, Palazzo Butera was purchased by Massimo and Francesco
Valsecchi, who began a complete restoration of the site.
History and description of Palazzo Butera are kindly provided by Palazzo Butera
Aside from the released venues in the Kalsa district, Manifesta 12 will launch projects
outside the historical center, including the north, such as ZEN (Zone Espansione Nord)
and south of Palermo. The details of the projects and further locations will be released
as the development of Manifesta 12 progresses.
13Annex:
• Curatorial concept text by Manifesta 12 Creative Mediators
• Creative Mediators bios
• Manifesta 12 Education Hub info
• Photo
Manifesta 12 Palermo Dates
16.06.18 – 04.11.18
Local & international TV previews on 14.06.18
International press, professional and VIP previews on 15.06 – 16.06.18
Public opening on the evening of 16.06.18
-
Manifesta 12 Palermo Initiators
Manifesta
The City of Palermo
-
Manifesta 12 Digital:
www.manifesta12.org
#Manifesta12Palermo
Facebook: manifestabiennial
Instagram: manifestabiennial
Twitter: manifestadotorg
-
For further information, please contact:
Fondazione Manifesta 12 Palermo
Teatro Garibaldi, via Teatro Garibaldi 46-56
90133 Palermo, Italy
Press: m12press@manifesta.org; contact person Sveva Alagna
General: m12@manifesta.org
14About Manifesta
Manifesta, the European Nomadic Biennial, originated in the early 1990s in response to
the political, economic and social change following the end of the Cold War and the
subsequent steps towards European integration. Since it started, Manifesta has
developed into a platform for dialogue between art and society in Europe, by inviting
the cultural and artistic community to produce new creative experiences with, and not
for, the context in which it takes place. Manifesta is a site-specific cultural project that
rethinks the relations between culture and society through a continuous dialogue with
the social sphere.
Manifesta was founded and is still run by Dutch art historian, Hedwig Fijen, in
Amsterdam. Each new edition is started up and fundraised individually, and managed
by a permanent team of international specialists. Manifesta is working from its offices in
Amsterdam and Palermo, with an upcoming office in Marseille. Led by Hedwig Fijen and
Peter Paul Kainrath, the permanent team consists of Tatiana Tarragó, Paul Domela,
Esther Regueira, Yana Klichuk, Asell Yusupova, Marieke van Hal and Mikaela Poltz, as well
as Manifesta 12 general manager Roberto Albergoni and coordinator Francesca Verga.
In its next decade, Manifesta will focus on evolving from an influential contemporary art
biennial into an interdisciplinary European platform that investigates and catalyzes
positive social change in Europe through contemporary culture.
Previous Manifesta Host Cities
• Manifesta 1, Rotterdam (Netherlands, 1996)
• Manifesta 2, Luxembourg (Luxembourg, 1998)
• Manifesta 3, Ljubljana (Slovenia, 2000)
• Manifesta 4, Frankfurt (Germany, 2002)
• Manifesta 5, Donostia-San Sebastián (Spain, 2004)
• Manifesta 6, Nicosia (Cyprus, 2006 – cancelled)
• Manifesta 7, Trentino-Alto Adige (Italy, 2008)
• Manifesta 8, Murcia - Cartagena (Spain, 2010)
• Manifesta 9, Genk-Limburg (Belgium, 2012)
• Manifesta 10, St. Petersburg (Russia, 2014)
• Manifesta 11, Zurich (Switzerland, 2016)
Manifesta Foundation
Herengracht 474, 1017CA
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
All inquiries: secretariat@manifesta.org
Phone: +31 20 672 14 35
15Annex 1: Curatorial Concept
Manifesta 12 Palermo.
The Planetary Garden. Cultivating Coexistence.
By Bregtje van der Haak, Andrés Jaque, Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli, Mirjam
Varadinis. Manifesta 12 Creative Mediators
Throughout history, the city of Palermo has been a laboratory for diversity and cross-
pollination. Continuous migration - from the Ancient Greeks, the Arabs and the
Normans to the recent arrival from Northern Africa, South East Asia and the Middle
East - has constantly redefined the city and its people. Palermo’s streets, architecture,
parks, cultural legacy and personal histories are the result of a long-lasting syncretism
of cultures across the Mediterranean and beyond.
In the 1875 painting View of Palermo by Francesco Lojacono – in the collection of the
GAM Museum in Palermo - nothing is indigenous. Olive trees came from Asia, aspen
from the Middle East, eucalyptus from Australia, prickly pear from Mexico, loquat from
Japan. Citrus trees – a symbol of Sicily – were introduced under Arab sovereignty. The
botanical garden of Palermo, Orto Botanico, was founded in 1789 as a laboratory to
nurture, study, test, mix and gather diverse species. Palermo’s Orto Botanico inspired
Manifesta 12 to look at the idea of the “garden”, exploring its capacity to aggregate
difference and to compose life out of movement and migration.
Gardens are places where diverse forms of life mix and adapt to co-exist. They allow for
cross-pollination based on encounter. In 1997, French botanist Gilles Clément described
the world as a “planetary garden” with humanity in charge of being its gardener. But
how to tend to a world that is moved by invisible informational networks, transnational
private interests, algorithmic intelligence, environmental processes and ever-increasing
inequalities? Twenty years later, the metaphor of the planet as a manageable garden is
still attractive, not as a space for humans to take control, but rather as a site where
“gardeners” recognise their dependency on other species, and respond to climate, time,
or an array of social factors, in a shared responsibility.
Palermo Atlas, the urban study by OMA, reveals Palermo as a node in an expanded
geography of movements – of people, capital, goods, data, seeds, germs – that are often
invisible, untouchable and beyond our control. Palermo is shaped by these flows and
journeys, from Somalia to Scandinavia, from Indonesia to Gibraltar and the Americas.
Palermo is a global city, but one of the problematic-global, a place where key
16transnational issues converge – from climate change and illegal trafficking to the
simultaneous impact of tourism and migration.
Palermo’s position at the crossroads of three continents makes it an ideal location for
Manifesta 12 to investigate some of the key changes of our time. But it is also a place
where the current model of globalisation is contested with new perspectives on civic
engagement. In the 1990s, the Primavera di Palermo social movement against the
mafia helped the city emerge from decades of criminal control, with a determination to
establish new forms of civic agency. Similar ambitions arise in Palermo today, as it
embraces migration and proposes new models of citizenship (the ambition to abolish
the residence permit) and human rights (Mayor of Palermo Leoluca Orlando’s proposal
to establish mobility as a human right).
Collaborating closely with Palermitan partners, Manifesta 12 will co-inhabit Palermo as a
laboratory for the challenges of our time, looking for traces of possible futures. In the
context of globalisation, Manifesta 12 chooses to be radically local in engaging with the
city in all of its diverse components. The Planetary Garden will host 4 main sections, each
touching on key topics of the concept:
• Garden of Flows will explore toxicity, plant life and the culture of gardening in
relation to the transnational commons in Orto Botanico.
• Out of Control Room will investigate power in today’s regime of global flows.
The location of this section will be released in the coming months.
• City on Stage will build on existing opportunities in the centre and the outskirts
of Palermo to further develop the existing plans that are stuck somehow and
have not been fully realised. Productive collaborations can act as a catalyst and
possibly extend into future and long-term initiatives in Palermo.
• Teatro Garibaldi hosts a library, café and program of public events, including
debates, workshops and film screenings (presentation of films shot in Palermo
with introduction and/or Q&A).
Manifesta 12 in 2018 will also dialogue with the ephemeral components of Palermo’s life.
Honouring the city’s long tradition of storytelling – or canta storie – through a series of
new narrative productions about the city’s hidden networks. Recognising Santa Rosalia
procession as a territory of contemporary syncretism, dialogue and celebration.
Supporting existing initiatives to provide spaces for public hospitality. Mobilising its rich
collection of archives to disclose untold stories on the city and its characters.
The participants and projects of each section of Manifesta 12 will be unveiled in
preparation to the biennial, opening on 16 June 2018 until 4 November 2
17Annex 2: Creative Mediators Bios
Manifesta 12 Creative Mediators
Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli | Sicilian-born architect and partner at OMA
Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli is an architect and partner at OMA. Ippolito’s work has a focus
on preservation, scenography and curation. Current and recent projects include the
renovation of Kaufhaus des Westens (KaDeWe) in Berlin (ongoing); Panda, a research
and exhibit for the 2016 Oslo Triennale, which explores the impact of sharing economy
platforms; the transformative design of the 16th century Fondaco dei Tedeschi in Venice
(2016); Monditalia, a multi-disciplinary exhibition focused on the current status of Italy,
at the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale; scenography for the Greek theatre of Syracuse
in Sicily (2012); and the co-curation of Cronocaos, OMA’s exhibition on preservation at
the 2010 Venice Architectural Biennale. In addition, Ippolito is responsible for a wide
range of projects for Prada and the Fondazione Prada. Ippolito studied architecture at
the Politecnico di Milano and at TU Delft.
18Bregtje van der Haak | Dutch filmmaker and journalist
Bregtje van der Haak is a documentary filmmaker and journalist. Since 1997, she has
been directing international documentaries and transmedia projects on long-term
social change with a special focus on urbanisation and technological culture. Her
documentaries include Saudi Solutions, DNA Dreams, Satellite Queens, Lagos Wide &
Close and Atlas of Pentecostalism, and have been shown on television, in film festivals
and in art exhibitions around the world. Van der Haak was the first woman filmmaker to
film the lives of working women in Saudi Arabia in 2006 and was honoured with the
Media Woman of the Year award. Van der Haak regularly directs episodes of the VPRO
Backlight Series on Future Affairs and is a board member of the Prince Claus Fund and
the Erasmus Prize. She studied dance in Paris, political science and law at the University
of Amsterdam and the New School for Social Research in New York, and journalism at
the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University in New York. She has been a
Visiting Professor at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and the
School of Creative Media at the City University of Hong Kong.
19Andrés Jaque | Spanish architect and founder of Office for Political
Innovation
Andrés Jaque is an artist, architect and scholar based in New York and Madrid.
He is the founder of the Office for Political Innovation, an international practice that
works in the intersection of research, politics and design. He a recipient of the 10th
Frederick Kiesler Prize; the Silver Lion for the Best Research Project at the 14th Venice
Biennale; Alfred Toepfer Stiftung’s Tessenow Stipendiat; the Dionisio Hernández Gil
Award and the Architectural Record’s Designer of the Year award. He is PhD Architect
(ETSAM) Professor at Columbia University GSAPP and Visiting Professor of Princeton
University SoA. His publications include Everyday Politics, SUPERPOWERS OF TEN;
PHANTOM. Mies as Rendered Society; Different Kinds of Water Pouring into a Swimming
Pool and Dulces Arenas Cotidianas. His work has been shown at Museum of Modern Art,
MoMA, ZKM Kalsruhe, MAK Austrian Museum in Vienna, CalArts Center for
Contemporary Arts, Schweizerisches Architektur Museum in Basel, Z33 Hasselt, Cité de
l'Architecture et du Patrimoine de Paris, JUMEX Museum, Tel Aviv Museum of Arts,
Mostra di Architettura de la Bienal de Venezia, Gwangju Biennale, Lisbon Architecture
Triennale, Chicago Architecture Biennial and London Design Museum.
20Mirjam Varadinis | Swiss contemporary art curator at Kunsthaus Zurich
Mirjam Varadinis has been curator and art historian at Kunsthaus Zürich since
September 2002. She is in charge of contemporary art and has organised various
exhibitions, including among others, the group shows “Action!” (2016) and “Shifting
Identities” (2008), as well as solo exhibitions with Akram Zaatari, Javier Téllez, Haris
Epaminonda, Rosa Barba, Roman Ondák, Adrian Paci, Mircea Cantor, Tino Sehgal, Erik
van Lieshout, Nedko Solakov, Urs Fischer and David Shrigley a.o. She has published
numerous catalogues and artist books and contributes to international art magazines.
In 2013, Mirjam Varadinis curated “0 Performance – The Fragile Beauty of Crisis”, a
special project for the 5th Moscow Biennial of Contemporary Art. In 2012, she co-
curated “TRACK” (together with Philippe Van Cauteren), a large-scale, city-wide
international group exhibition in the tradition of “Chambres d’amis” in Ghent, Belgium.
In 2006, Varadinis was also a curator of “Printemps de Septembre”, an annual festival of
contemporary art in Toulouse, France.
Manifesta 12 Creative Mediators photos by CAVE Studio, 2017.
21Annex 3: Education Hub
Education Hub
Manifesta 12 Itinerant Platform
Education Hub is a project of Manifesta 12 Education made in collaboration with the
University and Academy of Fine Arts of Palermo and the transport company AMAT.
Education Hub is generously supported by DGAAP, the Contemporary Art and
Architecture Department of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism.
The Hub is a travelling education platform to reach out and engage with various
communities in the neighbourhoods of Palermo in the duration of the Manifesta 12
biennial. The project will be set up in a city bus, radically transformed by the students of
the University of Palermo (Department of Architecture, Industrial design course) and
Academy of Fine Arts (Graphic Design Department) under the guidance of Madrid-
based architectural bureau ENORME Studio.
The Education Hub will travel around the city and will bring Manifesta 12 into an active
dialogue with the suburbs of Palermo through site-specific interventions including but
not limited to performances, workshops, community events and meetings, open air
screenings, special bus tours and bus-sharing as well as digital learning projects.
Manifesta 12 Education Hub life cycle:
• October 2017 – 1st workshop session with the students
• December 2017 – 2nd workshop session with the students
• January 2018 – 3rd workshop session with the students
• January – April 2018 – Bus transformation works
• April – November 2018 – Education Hub in action
ENORME Studio is an architecture and design office based in Madrid and led by David
Pérez, Carmelo Rodríguez and Rocío Pina. ENORME is best characterized by their radical
approach to architecture, city and people. They design and build ARCHITECTURE
PROJECTS based on industrial systems and typological innovation, as well as perform
participation dynamics in the domain of city construction through their creative
platform CIUDAD CREA CIUDAD and CITIZENSHIP BRAND IDENTITIES. Their aim is to
foster alternative ways to examine urban issues and to motivate the creation of a
proactive citizen culture. They design and apply TACTICAL URBANISM tools that transfer
teamwork strategies and collective thinking dynamics into public and private space
22design and management. ENORME’s aim is to give the city back to citizens as an
emotional, plural and relational space.
The ENORME Studio architects that Manifesta 12 is collaborating with on this project are
Carmelo Rodríguez and Rocío Pina.
Report on the 1st workshop session of Education Hub: 23 – 27 October 2017
23 October 2017 marks the start of the 1st workshop session of the Education Hub
project. On that day, ENORME Studio architects Carmelo Rodríguez e Rocío Pina have
presented their past projects in a public conference held at the Department of
Architecture of the University of Palermo. The architects have then proposed the
conceptual framework of the Education Hub which they based upon three key
metaphors: The Embassy, The Noah’s Ark, and Arts and Crafts. This framework can be
developed in four scales: indoor, movement, rituals and display. In order to investigate
the potential of the bus in above mentioned scales, and to radically transform its
interiors, architects and students went working in the storage space, where the Hub is
currently located. In the last days of the first workshop session, they moved to the cultural
association CRE.ZI.PLUS at Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa where they have brainstormed the
bus’ unexpected functions and resources, as well as what actually is needed to turn the
old bus into an itinerant platform.
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