"Amore Molesto" by Fabiana Sorrentino: When Moss Art Meets Contemporary Literature
- taitgroupsrl
- Aug 25
- 3 min read
Italian contemporary art is finding new forms of expression through innovative techniques and profound cultural references. T-Affordable , an incubator dedicated to emerging talents in the contemporary art scene, presents a work that captures the essence of this evolution: "Amore molesto" by Fabiana Sorrentino . This moss art work, created with flowers, plants, mosses, and lichens stabilized on a 30 x 20 cm surface, represents a perfect example of how art can dialogue with Italian literature and cultural memory, transforming natural materials into powerful narrative vehicles.
The Opera: A Dialogue Between Nature and Literature
The work's compact size creates a special intimacy, inviting the viewer to discover the details hidden among the stabilized moss and lichen. The title immediately evokes Elena Ferrante 's masterpiece , a novel that marked Italian literature with its exploration of family relationships, as explored in Mario Martone's 1995 film .
The stabilization of plants becomes a metaphor for the process of preserving memory : as explained on My Green Help , "preserved plants are natural plants that, through a process of replacing their sap with vegetable glycerin, maintain their original appearance for years." This artificial permanence dialogues with the fluidity of memory in Ferrante's novel.
Fabiana Sorrentino: Volcanic Energy Transformed into Art
Fabiana Sorrentino , born in 1975, represents the excellence of Southern Italian contemporary art, which we support in its international growth. As she states on her official website : "This artist embodies the volcanic energy of Vesuvius, the typically Neapolitan cheerfulness, and the expansiveness typical of Southern Italy."
With a degree in Cultural Heritage Conservation and a specialization in Cultural Management, Sorrentino developed the brand A tinteforti – Creativity, Art and Fun . Her aesthetic, as she explains, is based on three elements: flowers (a symbol of authenticity), color ("which symbolizes the fullness of communicating oneself to the world"), and experimentation with innovative materials such as leather instead of traditional wood.
Moss Art: An Innovative Technique in Contemporary Art
Moss art uses preserved mosses, lichens, plants, and flowers to create long-lasting installations. As noted by the LinfaDecor portal , the stabilization process "replaces the natural sap with a biodegradable solution containing vegetable glycerin, allowing the natural appearance to be maintained for years without maintenance."
In "Troubling Love," this technique takes on particular relevance: while Ferrante's novel explores the mutability of memory, the work crystallizes natural elements into permanent form. As discussed on Artemuschio : "Preserved lichens and mosses offer a sustainable alternative, eliminating irrigation and maintenance while maintaining a natural appearance."
The Cultural Context: Naples between Tradition and Innovation
Naples, the protagonist of Ferrante's novel, represents a fertile ground for Sorrentino's creativity. As noted in his review of Sentieri Selvaggi : "Naples becomes a living character, pulsating with contradictions and memories."
The appropriation of Ferrante's title places the work within a broader dialogue with contemporary Italian culture. The author, as analyzed in La Balena Bianca , "redefined the narrative paradigms of Italian literature through a prose that combines realism and psychological introspection."
Technical and Material Innovation
The work features innovative supports compared to traditional vertical gardens, adding "preciousness, durability, and versatility to the quality of the materials used," as the artist explains. This experimentation places the installation somewhere between decorative art and contemporary sculpture.
The choice of preserved materials also reflects a contemporary ecological sensibility. As highlighted on Houzz : "Moss offers endless creative possibilities thanks to its natural texture and ability to create evocative atmospheres."
Conclusion: Contemporary Italian Art and the International Market
"Troubling Love" demonstrates how contemporary Italian art can innovate through experimental techniques while maintaining strong cultural roots. Sorrentino's moss art is not simple decoration, but artistic research that explores universal themes through sustainable materials.
The literary reference to Elena Ferrante enriches the work with meanings that transcend aesthetics, creating interdisciplinary bridges and opening up new interpretative possibilities. This work exemplifies the expressive potential of emerging Italian art on the international scene, where cultural tradition and technical innovation merge into original contemporary languages.
Sorrentino's work, in its synthesis of stabilized nature and literary memory, offers a poetic reflection on time that resonates with contemporary aesthetic concerns, confirming the creative potential of Italian plant art.
Comments