Travel informs art, our worldview, and changes who we are as people. A perfect embodiment of this sentiment is Anne de Carbuccia, a French-American environmental artist who has devoted her life to travel and documenting the “evolution of the planet and the impact of mankind on the environment,” in her words. Carbuccia had a unique window into the world of travel starting from a young age. Born in New York, raised in Paris, and summering in Corsica, she grew up surrounded by the traveling greats; Her father was friends with Jacques Cousteau and Alain Bombard, and their stories resonated with and inspired her.
Carbuccia is known for her "TimeShrines," an artistic concept she came up with while on an expedition in Antarctica. TimeShrines are temporary installations that Carbuccia stages and then photographs to give them permanence. They incorporate found items from her travels which strategically represent the impact of what she calls “human-caused threats” on the world.
Her most recent international exhibition, One Planet One Future, is a collection of photos she worked on over four years of traveling. It specifically focuses on the endangerment of animals, cultures, and places—and the themes of water and trash. The artist’s discontent with the state of our planet stems from the ruins she’s encountered while traveling, hence highlighting trash as a theme.
Carbuccia’s ultimate goal is preservation, so the next generations of travelers and citizens of the world can appreciate culture landmarks in the same way we have. Carbuccia’s fervency for preservation is apparent in the venue she chose for the One Planet One Future exhibit. In addition to their exhibits in Milan and New York, photos from the collection are now on display at Castel dell’Ovo and will be up until the end of September. Once the fort protecting all of Naples, Castel dell’Ovo sits on its own peninsula nestled in the Gulf of Naples. Built in the 12th century, it’s Naples oldest castle, and the peninsula it stands on use to be known as the Island of Megaride. The Greeks supposedly landed on the island in the eighth century. It seems only fitting that a landmark brimming with history should host an exhibit focused on protecting our culture and environment.
The photographs from One Planet One Future are exhibited on rotating panels, partially to protect Castel dell’Ovo, but also so that guests can interact with the art from multiple angles. It isn’t just the art or the castle that will draw you in—the light design is actually meant to recreate natural light spectrums and is inspired by the colors of the sea surrounding the castle’s peninsula. The art lives in the Sala dell Carceri, or the prison chambers of the castle.
The exhibit at Castel dell’Ovo is about more than experiencing art in a an historic Naples venue; It’s a call to action for all of us to change the way they interact with the environment. Through her art, Carbuccia wants to not only emphasize the increasing urgency of the environmental crisis but to affect long-term change. (June 23–September 30, Castel Dell’Ovo, Naples, Italy; castel-dell-ovo.com)
