Ephemeral Panic / Pánico efímero – Ambra Castagnetti

The Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá (MAMBO) presents the first solo and anthological exhibition dedicated to Italian artist Ambra Castagnetti (Genoa, 1993), whose practice explores the complex relationships between the body, the political and natural environment, and the poetic dimensions that emerge at their intersection. Through sculptures, installations, and videos, Castagnetti develops a visual language that challenges traditional categories, integrating human, animal, and natural elements into a fluid and speculative universe.

Castagnetti’s work is defined by a constant search for hybridization between the human and the non-human, questioning the centrality of anthropocentrism and paving the way for a model of horizontal coexistence. In her creations, bodies are presented as permeable organisms, connected to their physical and symbolic surroundings, where time and space are compressed and transformed into a meditative experience. Inspired by references as diverse as Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the Xenofeminist Manifesto (2015), and Tarkovsky’s cinema, the artist proposes a reflection on the inner and outer landscapes that shape our identity.

From a perspective deeply committed to both the political and the poetic, Castagnetti uses materials such as ceramic, metal, and bones to create pieces that combine fragility and resistance. These sculptures, protected by metallic “shields,” evoke the coexistence of vulnerability and strength in a world marked by ecological, social, and technological tensions. In her immersive installations, the viewer is invited to enter a state of active contemplation, where natural, animal, and technological elements engage in a narrative of transformation and resistance.

With an approach that combines anthropology, philosophy, and science fiction, Castagnetti’s work addresses urgent questions about identity and the human relationship with its environment. Her practice is deeply rooted in the creative process, from modeling organic forms to using contemporary technologies to build an imaginary ecosystem that challenges hierarchies and celebrates diversity.

Curator: Eugenio Viola: Born in Naples, Italy, he is a curator, art critic, and holds a PhD in Methods and Methodologies of Archaeological and Historical-Artistic Research from the University of Salerno. He worked as Chief Curator at the Museo d’Arte Contemporanea DonnaRegina – MADRE (Naples) from 2009 to 2016. There, he was responsible for research on the museum’s collection and co-curated the first large-scale exhibitions in Italy by Boris Mikhailov, Francis Alÿs, and Daniel Buren, among others. From 2017 to 2019, he was Chief Curator at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts – PICA and is currently Chief Curator at the Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá – MAMBO.