Landscape as Monument: Nature and Gardens through the Ages Studio Art & Fashion Design Program Summer 2024 July 4-Week 2 Course - Florence

This course explores the transformation of the concept of nature and landscape in Italian culture through the centuries. There are two principal areas of investigation. The first revolves around domesticated nature, that of gardens and green spaces within the city, for which students will visit Renaissance palaces and gardens around Florence as backdrop for the discussion. The second takes a look at landscapes, their presence in art, in the representation of the world, and most importantly the way in which landscapes have been transformed by humans.
Artificial landscapes have been created that today are true monuments, like the Chianti in Tuscany and the rows of maritime pines in the Roman countryside. The course puts into discussion this monumentalization and asks in what way is it possible to save or transform such landscapes. All this in the light of the ongoing drastic and violent climate change. Climate change puts at risk the survival of both natural and artificial ecosystems and requires rethinking the construction of urban green spaces and in the maintenance of historic gardens.