Giuseppe Penone at Serpentine South

Serpentine South presents Thoughts in the Roots, a major exhibition dedicated to Italian artist Giuseppe Penone, running from April 3rd to September 7th, 2025. This is the most comprehensive survey of Penone’s work in the UK to date, featuring sculptures, drawings, and installations that extend beyond the gallery into the surrounding Royal Parks.

A leading figure in Arte Povera, Penone has spent over five decades exploring the interplay between nature and artistic process. His practice is deeply influenced by the landscapes of Northern Italy, where he grew up, and his works reveal the hidden structures and rhythms of the natural world.

One of the highlights of the exhibition is Albero Folgorato (2012), a bronze sculpture depicting a lightning-struck tree, with its fractured form accented by gold leaf. Another key piece, Respirare l’ombra (1998), transforms a gallery space into an immersive environment lined with aromatic laurel leaves, emphasizing the invisible presence of breath.

Penone describes his work as an attempt to express his connection to nature, stating that the exhibition unfolds like two intertwined gardens—one inside the gallery, the other in the open landscape. This concept aligns with Serpentine’s long-standing engagement with ecological themes and its history of bringing art into the natural environment.

Curated by Claude Adjil, Hans Ulrich Obrist, and Alexa Chow, the exhibition underscores Penone’s enduring fascination with organic materials, from wood and bronze to terracotta and marble. By merging sculpture with living ecosystems, his work challenges traditional boundaries between art and nature.

Thoughts in the Roots is part of Serpentine’s broader commitment to ecological research and artistic experimentation. Alongside the exhibition, the gallery will host a series of talks and events exploring themes of sustainability, materiality, and the evolving dialogue between art and the environment.

Penone’s works have been exhibited worldwide, from the Centre Pompidou in Paris to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. This exhibition reaffirms his position as one of the most influential sculptors of his generation, offering audiences a poetic meditation on time, memory, and the profound interconnectedness of all living things.