“FLOWERS”: THE CHIOSTRO DEL BRAMANTE CELEBRATES FLOWERS IN ARTWITH THE GREATEST EXHIBITION IN ITALY DEDICATED TO THEIR BEAUTY AND POWER

From February 14 to September 14, 2025, “Flowers. Art from the Renaissance to Augmented Reality” presents a journey where the endlessly evocative power of flowers emerges. The show brings together art, science, and technology creating a universal narrative that spans the centuries: from the masterpieces of Jan Brueghel to Ai Weiwei and latest experimentation with digital technologies in contemporary art.

Fragile and powerful, flowers speak a universal language that transcends centuries and cultures. They narrate emotions, celebrate beauty, silently protest, and preserve age-old tales. It is precisely to them that the Chiostro del Bramante in Rome dedicates an extraordinary exhibition: “Flowers. Art from the Renaissance to Augmented Reality”, running from February 14 to September 14, 2025. Curated by Franziska Stöhr and Roger Diederen, in collaboration with Suzanne Landau, the exhibition offers a journey through five centuries of art, culture, and innovation.

‘Flowers are much more than simple decorative elements,’ explains Natalia de Marco, Artistic Director of the Chiostro del Bramante. ‘They act as universal symbols, epitomising every aspect of life: from resilience to spirituality, from love to conflict, from science to ecology.’ This sensory adventure comes to life in an exhibition that combines works from the past and the present, offering the public an unprecedented interpretation of the role flowers have played in the evolution of our history and society.

The masterpieces on display span from the 16th to the 21st century. Paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, tapestries, photographs, site-specific installations, and pieces using augmented reality intertwine to narrate the encounter between art and nature. Among the Masters exhibited are Jan Brueghel the Elder, depicting flowers as silent protagonists in a vast symbolic universe, suspended between sacred and profane; Girolamo Pini and his extraordinary attention to botanical detail; Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris with their delicate floral representations, evoking an ethereal beauty typical of the Pre-Raphaelite movement.

Alongside these historical works, visitors will see Ai Weiwei’s and Kapwani Kiwanga’s contemporary installations, where flowers become a metaphor for resistance, highlighting the social and political challenges of our time and the past. 

A key feature of the exhibition is also the use of new technologies. Amongst the contemporary artists featured, Studio Drift seduces the public with their technological installations inspired by natural processes, while Kehinde Wiley offers a bold and vibrant interpretation of the floral theme. Miguel Chevalier explores the question of the naturalness and artificiality of flowers with his immersive installation and Rebecca Louise Law builds a fascinating corridor in which visitors will be literally surrounded by flowers, presenting a sensory experience as unique as the olfactory journey hosted in another area of the exhibition space. Even the exterior of the Chiostro del Bramante will take center stage, completely transformed into an earthly paradise thanks to the installation by Austin Young / Fallen Fruit.

A special section will be dedicated to flowers in science and politics, emphasising how these natural symbols have often played a crucial role in cultural and social dynamics: from ecological issues (perfectly exemplified by various references to the “artistic” dimension of bees, with their tireless work of pollination) to the fights for civil rights.

The exhibition displays over 90 artworks, coming from 10 different countries around the world: the Chiostro del Bramante has indeed collaborated with prestigious institutions such as the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Petit Palais, and Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, alongside the botanical and scientific collections of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London and the Museo Civico di Zoologia in Rome. Notable lenders include the Galleria Borghese, the Biblioteca Casanatense, the Badisches Landesmuseum in Karlsruhe, and The Israel Museum, Jerusalem.

Produced in collaboration with the Kunsthalle München, the show demonstrates how flowers are an inexhaustible source of inspiration for artists of every era. ‘The beauty of flowers is universal, but their interpretation changes over time and space,’ observes Natalia de Marco. ‘This exhibition is an invitation to rediscover the evocative power of these extraordinary gifts of nature.’

The Chiostro del Bramante, with its exceptional 16th-century aura, provides the ideal setting for an experience that combines art, nature, and technology. “Flowers. Art from the Renaissance to Augmented Reality” promises to be one of the most captivating exhibitions of 2025, a journey between beauty and power that will move and surprise the public.

Education Department

At a historical moment in which climate change and biodiversity loss confront us with unprecedented challenges, “Flowers” becomes a manifesto for sustainability. The works presented, indeed, invite the public to look at nature from a new perspective, asking them to think about their responsibilities.

Each installation has a story to tell, merging the artists’ idealistic approach with urgent themes such as the ability of ecosystems to adapt, the impact of the industry on the environment, and the need to preserve biodiversity. Interacting with works such as ‘Honeycomb Head of the Emperor Hadrian’ by Tomáš Gabzdil Libertíny, Studio Drift’s ‘Meadow,’ where mechanical flowers reproduce the ephemeral beauty of nature, or ‘Forest Flux/Waldwandel’ by Tamiko Thiel and/p, which explores forest adaptation to climate change, allows visitors to engage with an emotional and formative experience.

Through its Education Department, The Chiostro del Bramante promotes sustainability on multiple levels. In addition to welcoming the public to the exhibition, it works with thousands of students every year, developing didactic programmes both for the museum and for schools, contributing significantly to the development of future generations of conscious citizens. The topics included in the “Flowers” exhibition become part of an innovative educational journey that raises awareness among younger generations, laying the foundations for a more responsible and attentive relationship with the environment.

The Exhibition Podcast

Imagined as a podcast, the exhibition’s audio guide narrates the artworks with a unique approach, giving space to emblematic words that reveal their deepest meanings. Each episode offers an opportunity to discover hidden details and unconventional interpretations of major themes, establishing an emotional connection with the audience. This podcast represents an innovative way to experience art. Words create a bridge between the visitor and the visual experience, providing an in-depth and captivating perspective on the exhibition.

Information
+39 06 68 80 90 35

infomostra@chiostrodelbramante.it

Educational Information
didattica@chiostrodelbramante.it

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Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM [Ticket office closes one hour earlier].