ARTE&VINO 2024: MONTEVERRO HOSTS “COME FUNGI” BY GIULIO BENSASSON
The Capalbio winery, as part of the event dedicated to the fusion of these two worlds, welcomes the project of the Roman artist.
In this installation, the mushroom—flipped in its shape and hollowed out—transforms from a parasite into a receptive element, designed to collect rainwater and provide nourishment for birds and insects.
Join us on the 12th at the winery for the vernissage. Public visits will also be available.
Art and wine continue to intertwine, finding common connections and references while sharing a language that offers multiple levels of interpretation. Both realms strive for expressive excellence and engage with the public to reveal what lies behind a wine or an artistic inspiration. Monteverro, a virtuous wine estate—gently nestled on the Silver Coast—has always believed in this dialogue. Open to cross-disciplinary influences—art, music, literature, and theater—it participates once again in the event curated by Maria Concetta Monaci and organized by the cultural association Il Frantoio , which features the wineries of Capalbio hosting artworks, creating a wine-artistic path aimed at enhancing the region.
Monteverro’s authentic Maremma will this year host “Come Fungi,” an artwork by Giulio Bensasson, a Roman artist born in 1990. His creativity finds its greatest expression in installation and sculptural language, as Bensasson himself reveals: “Since childhood, I loved sculpting.” Time is a primary element present in many of his works. He earned a diploma in Painting and a specialized diploma in Sculpture and New Technologies Applied to Space from the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome.
“Come Fungi” is an installation inspired by the Fomes Fomentarius mushroom, which means “tinder (or food) for fire” and was used historically as a fire starter. In this installation, the mushroom is transformed from a parasite into an element that welcomes and supports life. Flipped and hollowed out, it becomes a natural container for rainwater, providing refreshment to birds, insects, and bats, achieving a perfect balance between art and nature. The artwork integrates harmoniously into the Monteverro estate’s ecosystem, inviting visitors to attentively observe the beauty of the surrounding landscape.
“It is a small and precious intervention in the complex ecosystem of the estate,” explains Bensasson. Here, nestled on the trunk of a centuries-old cork oak, it serves as a mimetic element that invites discovery and encourages viewers to observe the wonderful surrounding nature more closely.” The mushrooms in the artwork are details that guide the observer through the visit with their delicate presence, revealing—while “hiding”—some of the most surprising places on the property. It is an artwork that harmonizes well with its surroundings, enhancing its characteristics.
Technically, the work consists of a series of sculptures made from silicone, created using a casting technique that faithfully reproduces the characteristics of the mushroom, including its asymmetries and the thin lamellae that are clearly visible. Placed on the centuries-old oak tree, which dominates the intersection between the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards, they initially appear as an oxymoron between the long life of the tree and the parasitic essence of the mushroom. Only upon closer inspection does their transformed nature become evident, turning them into receptive elements. And—surprisingly— as the light fades, they reveal their phosphorescence, further emphasizing their living and invigorating essence.
The artwork will be officially presented on September 12th, with an invitation-only vernissage of “Come Fungi,” featuring Giulio Bensasson. Three additional public events—on September 27th, October 18th, and November 15th—will be held by reservation, allowing visitors to experience the strong connection between art and territory firsthand.
Arte&Vino 2024 at Monteverro is not just an event for wine and art enthusiasts but represents a unique opportunity to explore the deep connections between creativity and nature. Giulio Bensasson’s work, “Come Fungi,” perfectly embodies this dialogue, transforming a natural element into a symbol of regeneration and beauty. Monteverro continues to be a place where art and nature coexist in harmony, inviting the public to a deeper reflection.