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Ulïètu
Collection:CSM Museum & Study Collection
Date: 10th June 2021
Artist: Francesca Daloiso
Dimensions:
160 × 160 mm (16 × 16 cm)
260 × 260 mm (26 × 26 cm)
Medium: Olive chips previously affected by Xylella Fastidiosa intended to be burnt to produce biomass energy, sunflower oil-based polymer.
Object number: MISC.2022.239.CC.1-5
Description5 samples of a material made from dead olive trees, killed by the bacteria Xylella. Description from the designer: Ulïètu is a collection of surface panels reflecting the traumatic effect of Xylella Fastidiosa, one of the most dangerous plant-pathogenic bacteria worldwide which dehydrate the tree from the xylem vessels causing leaf scorch, wilt, die-back and plant death. The bacteria spread only through a vector, the spittlebug, which can fly long distances, reaching almost 1.4 km in an 82 minutes’ single flight. According to EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 563 species in 82 families have been reported to be susceptible to infection. Xylella Bacteria started spreading in Southern Apulia, Italy in 2013 caused by the importation of an infected Costa Rican coffee plant in that area. Since 2013 until today, half of the Apulian olive trees died of Xylella, precisely 21 million trees. Subsequently to Apulia, Southern France, the entire Corsica Island, Portugal and Southern Spain olives have been being infected too. According to the EU and Italian Commission Implementing Regulations of 14 August 2020, as regards measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Xylella Fastidiosa the trees must be immediately eradicated and passed through a chipping process. The wood chips will be finally burnt for an energetic consumption. This project aims at intelligent and sustainable wood carcasses recovering avoiding combustion and taking advantage from the material residual properties in large-scale contexts which preserves what remains of Apulian olive trees, giving them a second chance of life. Ulïètu represents a traumatic experience and loss, but also a rebirth of a heritage which now is considered as totally useless and irrecoverable.