Tomás Saraceno: A Manifesto for the Protection of Nature

Published for the first time ever on the occasion of Tomás Saraceno’s installations in the park of Villa delle Peschiere, the Co-Ownership and Habitat Protection Agreement is an innovative document that redefines the concept of ownership in contemporary art, placing respect for ecosystems and coexistence between species at its core. Conceived by artist Tomás Saraceno, the project aims to move beyond traditional notions of possession, introducing a model of interspecies cohabitation in which artworks do not belong exclusively to humans but are shared with the animals that inhabit them.

The installations from the Cloud Cities series are designed as shelters for birds, insects, and other creatures, offering them a safe and sustainable habitat. The agreement establishes that the artworks cannot be moved or removed as long as they remain occupied by non-human species, binding collectors to a role of caretaker rather than sole owner.

This agreement is part of a broader reflection on the need for a paradigm shift in the relationship between art, nature, and society, encouraging a reconsideration of our role within natural balances. A symbolic gesture, expressed through the forms and language of contemporary art, it seeks to foster a new awareness of responsible resource management and environmental protection.

The text is available in its original language and in its Italian translation, exclusively presented by Palazzo Foundation in collaboration with Genoa’s Pinksummer Contemporary Art gallery.