It is common knowledge that in Italy, as in many other Mediterranean countries, the olive tree is a symbol of national pride, as well as an asset. However, the olive tree has not always been a feature of the Italian landscape and might not endure for as long as we assume.

The tree that burns is a multidisciplinary project reflecting on the condition of the olive tree in Spoleto and Umbria, understanding it as a resource and symbol facing a variety of challenges and transformations (for example: heat exposure, droughts, bacteria infestation, increases in production costs).

Drawing on histories of migration and international relations, as well as the political-religious regulations that made the olive crop one of the most predominant of the region, the project considers the olive tree as a vehicle through which the eco-social transformations of the region can be traced.

The tree that burns is being developed over a period of two years by artist Joshua Leon and curator Daniela Ruiz Moreno. A part of their process is researching and mapping uncultivated olive trees near Spoleto and dialoguing with the individuals, institutions and businesses who are engaged in the production of olive oil.

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