Ambiente is an immersive artwork that manifests as an artificial forest made of polyester fringe knots. The work invites the audience to reflect on the effects of their daily actions on the environment, actively involving them in the narrative process. Interaction occurs through a symbolic gesture: adding a knot that connects with the others, forming a visual network that narrates the story of the ecological crisis and its dramatic global consequences. Each knot added by the audience signifies a concrete act of participation. The forest grows, but in doing so, it also reveals the uncomfortable truth behind its beauty. While it appears to be a natural and captivating place, it is made from synthetic polyester, underscoring its irreversible and polluting nature. This visual and conceptual paradox compels us to confront reality: despite its splendor, progress overlooks the devastating ecological and social repercussions. Durable and resilient, polyester becomes the silent witness to a crisis that transcends geographical and temporal boundaries, symbolizing a broken promise of sustainable development. 

The work serves as a metaphor for a global reality in which daily choices, even those that seem insignificant, affect the environment and the most vulnerable communities. The devastated landscapes of the Atacama Desert, suffocated by mountains of textile waste, and the city of Accra, overwhelmed by electronic waste dumps, stand as vivid reminders. These distant places are inextricably linked to our habits, illustrating the dramatic consequences of consumerism that place the burden of its contradictions on the most fragile populations. Ambiente encourages us to look beyond appearances and connect with our impact on Earth. The visible beauty of the forest is not merely an aesthetic appeal but a challenge to recognize the connection between our actions and the planet’s fate. Every gesture, every knot added, reflects what occurs far from us in places where our consumerism translates into suffering for the environment and its inhabitants. The forest, in its growth, evolves into an act of awareness, an invitation to reflect on the consequences of our choices, which are not confined to our own experiences but resonate in distant, affected areas like Accra and Atacama, where the traces of our consumerism are palpable signs of a global crisis.

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A core aspect of Ambiente is its educational dimension. Part of the installation materialized through collaboration with the Istituto di Istruzione Superiore Giuseppe & Quintino Sella in Biella and Cittadellarte’s Open School. Primary and middle school students actively participated in the project, learning the value of reusing materials and contemplating the environmental impact of their daily actions. This hands-on experience gave them a meaningful opportunity for creative learning and fostering environmental consciousness through creation.