Biennale Gherdëina - (Future) Paradise Gardens

Biennale Gherdëina is a contemporary art biennial taking place in Val Gardena, in the heart of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Dolomites provide an inspiring backdrop, rich in natural beauty, artisanal traditions, and timeless mountain narratives — an ideal setting to explore the concept of (Future) Paradise Gardens. These gardens, existing at the intersection of raw natural grandeur and human cultivation, are envisioned not only as sanctuaries for flora and fauna but also as spaces reflecting our collective aspirations for a future grounded in justice and equality. Here, gardens can nourish both body and spirit, serving as places of refuge, possibility, and renewal for all.

The exhibition is structured into distinct chapters, each examining a different facet of the human-made construct we call the garden. Symbolically, metaphorically, and emotionally, the themes center around notions of “Commoning” — where growing and sharing food, alongside caretaking and preserving traces of all life, are given priority. Another chapter, titled “Divine Love and Growth,” invites contemplation of the garden as a symbol of spiritual flourishing and transcendence.

The exhibition further delves into the concept of the “Violent Garden,” addressing the urgent need to decolonize the garden — challenging anthropocentric views and creating space for animals and nature to move freely and reclaim agency. The chapter on “Queer Ecology” interrogates why nature is often perceived as inherently queer, expanding the conversation on diversity and fluidity within ecological systems.

Additionally, we explore the “Botanical”— the ordering and classification of plant specimens — versus “Gardens as Spaces for Reflection and Poetry,” where gardens transform into sites of introspection, beauty, and creative imagination.