Contra Natura (Against Nature) – Giacomo Cossio

A lush landscape of potted plants is transformed into a monochromatic installation in a violent act against nature.

Live performance: 28th March 2025 7pm. The installation will be available to visit until 6th April 2025.

Immerse yourself in the transformative world of Contra Natura, a striking performance-installation by the visionary Italian artist Giacomo Cossio. The action begins with the building of an enclosed room filled with potted plants of various sizes. The greenery is arranged on multiple levels, forming a living landscape which immerses the viewer in nature.

Once this lush scene is established, the plants undergo a dramatic transformation. Cossio, using a compressor and lance, coats the foliage in a single, bold colour with water-based enamel. This process completely envelops the plants in a monochromatic layer, transforming the ordinary into a visually striking “vegetal forest.”

The work does not end with the painting; it continues to evolve over time. The painted plants are carefully tended, and as days or even months pass, new growth emerges, contrasting vividly with the painted surfaces—a surprising interplay between the living and the inert.

Originally performed on 14 May 2017 at the “Sala Bianca” of FerraraOff theatre in Ferrara, CONTRONATURA challenges the boundaries between nature and artifice, exploring the tension between urban greenery as decoration, filler, or even fetish.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Age Recommendation: None

ACCESS

This event will take place outside, in the undercroft of Factory International. To see access information for this venue, please visit this link.

CREDITS

Supported using public funding from Arts Council England and Italian Cultural Institute of London.