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Ijssel Biënnale, Zutphen, 2023.
Clay top soil, gravel, geotextile, water, hay. Dimesions: 244x350x250 cm, pitched roof 370 cm high.

While traffic rushes unsuspectingly over the high Cortenoeverse bridge, an enlarged 'monopoly house' stands in the rolling landscape between the bridge and the IJssel. Not bought with money from the bank, but temporarily borrowed from the earth. During the IJssel Biennale, Giuseppe Licari's earth house will change in appearance and colour. We can see it grow, smell it, feel it. The house does not appear to be a randomly chosen symbol. When we buy a house on private land, we are also responsible for the quality of the land. In the Netherlands we have the Soil Protection Act for this purpose. But who is responsible for the impoverishment of biodiversity and damage to the landscape? Licari makes a visual and tangible statement. Holds us accountable. We can deny it and leave its destructive consequences as a legacy for future generations. Or we take our responsibility and open ourselves to the opportunities that present themselves for more sustainable relationships with our environment.

Text from the accompanying publication. Photos by the artist.