Abolition Garden
muSa Michelle Mattiuzzi
Installation & Study Display

Abolition Garden is a growing garden and living anti-monument by Brazilian artist muSa Michelle Mattiuzzi. Planted this spring in the garden of KHI's Palazzo Capponi-Incontri to grow for the next two years, the installation is dedicated to Black radical thought and resistance stories throughout the process of Abolition of Slavery in Brazil. On 20 September 2024 at 5pm the KHI is pleased to introduce this collaborative research project between Mattiuzzi and the institute, and invites the public to a lecture performance by the artist at Palazzo Grifoni Budini Gattai, followed by a garden walk and an exploration of the temporary study display at the Kunsthistorisches Institut.

The study display and garden installation can be visited for the opening lecture and performance at 5.00pm on 20 September; from 3.00pm to 6.00pm on 23 September and 24 September; and for the closing event at 4.00pm on 25 September. 

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Artist Biography

muSa Michelle Mattiuzzi is a Brazilian interdisciplinary artist based in Berlin, Germany. Her research and artistic practice unfold in performances, writings, photography, and artistic films. Mattiuzzi has performed and exhibited internationally, including the Biennale of São Paulo 2026 and 2018, the Documenta 14 – Capacete Residence Programme in Athens, and the Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin. She has been artist-in-residence at the Villa Romana in 2021, as fellow of artistic research of KHI. She currently is artist-in-residence at the Jan van Eyck Academie in Maastricht (2023/24). https://www.studiomusa.art/en/

About the Research Collaboration

The art installation is part of the institute’s ongoing engagement with artistic research by contemporary artists and the collaboration with Villa Romana, Florence. It is realized in collaboration with Hannah Baader, Costanza Caraffa, Dorit Malz, Gerhard Wolf and KHI’s Garden Commission, and curated by Angelika Stepken and Tina Plokarz. The study display is kindly supported by KHI Library. Abolition Garden is temporarily (2024 - 2026) placed in the garden of KHI's Palazzo Capponi-Incontri and will be accompanied by a series of public events and conversations.