Tenere l’infinito nel palmo della mano
Museo Diffuso di Lentate sul Seveso presents Tenere l’infinito nel palmo della mano, a solo exhibition by Elisa Cella curated by Francesca Guerisoli. Through paintings, sculptures and installations, the artist guides the public on a journey of discovery through the universe of microorganisms. Viruses, bacteria, protozoa and diatoms take centre stage in an exhibition that weaves together art, science and environmental reflection, exploring the relationship between humankind and nature and the limits of our perception.
The title draws on a line from William Blake’s Auguries of Innocence – «Hold infinity in the palm of your hand» – evoking the possibility of recognising the immensity and complexity of existence even in its smallest manifestations. A shift in scale and perspective that draws attention to life forms invisible to the naked eye, yet fundamental to the planet’s biological balance.
Elisa Cella’s research has for years been situated at the intersection of artistic language, mathematics and biology. Through the repetition of a fundamental geometric element—the circle, drawn strictly freehand—the artist constructs complex structures, organic configurations and compositions in intense colours. His works evoke cellular and molecular architectures, translating images from the scientific world into visually striking forms. The fascination of these geometries coexists with their ambivalence: viruses and bacteria, often associated with disease and fear, reveal a surprising morphological richness and highlight the role they have played in human history and the development of scientific research.
Particular attention is paid to diatoms, single-celled algae widespread in aquatic environments, whose extraordinary morphological variety constitutes one of the most fascinating expressions of biodiversity. Responsible for a significant proportion of the planet’s oxygen production and fundamental to carbon cycles, they also serve as an indicator of the fragility of ecosystems and the environmental changes currently underway.
The exhibition has been conceived in close connection with the identity of the Spazio Egidio Isacco and its natural history collections. The museum’s exhibits from the animal kingdom are complemented by a dimension of nature normally invisible to the eye, establishing new connections between the permanent collections and contemporary research.
Elisa Cella
Elisa Cella (Genoa, 1974) lives and works in Monza. After studying Mathematics at the University of Milan, she developed an artistic practice that weaves together geometry, biology and philosophical reflection. Her artistic language is based on the repetition of the circle, drawn freehand, through which she creates paintings, drawings, sculptures and installations. Her solo exhibitions include Microbiota. An Expansion of the Sensory Experience at the Galleria Villa Contemporanea in Monza; C’est la mer allée / Avec le soleil at the Galleria Contempo in Pergine Valsugana; at Spazio Heart in Vimercate; and Concave Sensation, at the E3 Arte Contemporanea Gallery in Brescia. Her works feature in public collections, including the MAC Museum of Contemporary Art in Lissone, the Museum of Contemporary Art at Villa Croce in Genoa, the Butti Museum in Viggiù and the Civic Collection of Drawings in Salò.
MUDI – The Lentate sul Seveso Open-Air Museum
MUDI – The Lentate sul Seveso Open-Air Museum is a museum network that brings together and showcases the area’s historical, artistic, natural and cultural heritage. It comprises the Spazio Egidio Isacco, home to the civic collections; the 14th-century oratories of Santo Stefano and Santa Maria di Mocchirolo; the permanent design collection of SaloneSatellite at the Artwood Academy; and the Villa Volta Sannazzaro Park. Through exhibitions, cultural projects and interdisciplinary initiatives, MuDi promotes dialogue between historical heritage and contemporary forms of expression, with a particular focus on the relationships between art, the environment and the community.