The Consulate General of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute of Mumbai have collaborated with the Chanakya Foundation and the Chanakya School of Cratf to organise an exhibition-event celebrating 'Genes Mundi', the fruit of the Indian Foundation's 'Artist Residency', awarded for 2024 to the Italian artist Daniela Papadia.
Genes Mundi consists of six tapestries conceived by Papadia and embroidered under the creative supervision of Karishma Swali, with letters in gold thread that emphasise mitochondrial mutations across continents and symbolise the unbroken lineage of descent by maternal line.
"The embroideries are thus transformed into a kind of cartography, containing both historical continuity and contemporary reinvention," explains the artist. Who adds: "Embroidery has the voice of pain, love and resilience. Each stitch on the fabric becomes a testimony of duration, connection, and shared history'.
Presenting the project, the Consul General of Italy in Mumbai Walter Ferrara recalled that "initiatives like Genes Mundi highlight the strength of cultural collaborations in which tradition meets contemporary research. Italy and India share a deep bond in this sense'.
"Genes Mundi stands at the intersection between Italy and India, between science and art, and between art and craftsmanship," added Francesca Amendola, who heads the Italian Cultural Institute in Mumbai. "Fields often considered opposites can actually create opportunities for dialogue and fertile ground: at the heart of this encounter is a shared exploration of the feminine, a unifying thread that binds cultures together."
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