Art and International Cooperation: the Farnesina Collection at the Meeting

For its 25th anniversary, the Farnesina Collection comes to the Meeting in Rimini with a selection of works from the travelling exhibition Identities Beyond Borders, curated by Benedetta Carpi De Resmini and promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

A journey that intertwines generations of artists and invites us to look with fresh eyes at the relationship between human beings and nature, engaging with the themes of identity, separation, and coexistence.

At the heart of the project is the pavilion No Crisis Is Distant, where the Ministry recounts its commitment to humanitarian emergencies and cooperation projects. Among maps, interactive installations, and spaces dedicated to real-life experiences, art offers both a moment of contemplation and an opportunity to reflect on the world we inhabit.

The selected works speak in different languages but share the same urgency: to question the present and imagine the future.

• Letizia Battaglia – A symbolic photographer of Palermo and courageous witness of its contradictions, renowned for her intense black-and-white images.
• Tomaso Binga – Pseudonym of Bianca Pucciarelli Menna, an original voice of visual and sound poetry, always ready to overturn roles and conventions.
• Silvia Camporesi – Explores the Italian landscape, transforming it into a visual narrative steeped in memory and imagination.
• Maria Lai – Sardinian artist who intertwined art and life, weaving stories and relationships into her works.
• Elena Mazzi – Her creations stem from observing places and the human relationships that inhabit them.
• Mario Merz – One of the great masters of Arte Povera, he transformed simple materials into universal symbols.
• Agnese Purgatorio – Photographer and video artist addressing identity and migration through a powerful and symbolic language.
• Marta Roberti – Uses drawing and installation to explore the relationship between nature, myth, and representation.
• Marinella Senatore – Creates participatory projects that blend art, performance, and civic engagement.

The MAECI pavilion is more than an exhibition: it is a living space, featuring a reconstruction of the Crisis Unit Operations Room, interactive simulations, real-life testimonies from intervention areas, and accounts of the Italian Cooperation’s humanitarian initiatives.

Among the partners are the United Nations World Food Programme, Save the Children Italy, AVSI and the Italian Red Cross. Admission to the exhibition is free and requires no booking, with staff accompanying visitors through the discovery of the works.

When and where

The exhibition is open from 22 to 27 August 2025 at the International Pavilion – Rimini Expo Centre. Admission is free.

Info and updates available on Cooperazione Internazionale 2025.