Giuseppe Penone exhibition explores the power of nature, sculpture, and perception in London’s most immersive art experience yet
If you thought spring in London was all cherry blossoms and flat whites in the park, think again. From 3 April to 7 September 2025, Serpentine South is getting earthy—literally. The UK’s most comprehensive exhibition of legendary Arte Povera artist Giuseppe Penone lands in London, and it’s about to root itself in your mind.
Titled Thoughts in the Roots, this expansive exhibition doesn’t just sit quietly in the gallery. Oh no, it spills outside—into the very landscape of Kensington Gardens and the Royal Parks. Penone brings five decades of poetic, tactile, and olfactory brilliance to the city, reminding us that, yes, art and trees do go hand in hand.
The Power of Nature in Giuseppe Penone’s Work
At the core of this exhibition is the relationship between humans and nature—Penone’s signature obsession. A leading figure in Italy’s Arte Povera movement, Penone works with everything from bronze and marble to wax, wood, and leaves. His practice challenges the artificial boundaries between art and the natural world. And in case you thought Shoreditch had a monopoly on merging grit with beauty, Penone’s been there—carving trees and sculpting breath—since the 1970s.
Now, Serpentine presents Thoughts in the Roots as a two-part journey. Inside the gallery, expect immersive installations, gold-lined tree sculptures, and even sculptures that breathe. Outside, monumental bronze trees rise from the earth like visual haikus. It’s elegant, radical, and everything you never knew you needed this summer.
Feel the Earthquake: Monumental Sculptures in the Royal Parks
Three of Penone’s awe-inducing tree sculptures will anchor the outdoor part of the show. You’ll spot Albero folgorato (Thunderstruck Tree, 2012)—a dramatic bronze cast of a willow tree struck by lightning, with its wounds adorned in gold. Nearby, the Idee di pietra (Ideas of Stone) series introduces trees balancing hefty river stones in their branches. These aren’t just sculptures—they’re meditations on balance, thought, and the sheer weirdness of gravity.
Penone doesn’t merely copy nature. He collaborates with it. His trees have stories etched in their bark—scars of time, resilience, and transformation. So, take a moment between your oat latte and park jog to experience this powerful dialogue.
Inside Serpentine South: Breath, Leaves, and Bronze
Step into the gallery, and you’ll literally feel nature around you. Respirare l’ombra (To Breathe the Shadow) wraps the space in laurel leaves. Yes, real ones. The scent fades over time, reminding you that even the most immersive experiences are fleeting. Penone captures that ephemeral beauty and makes you breathe it in—literally.
Elsewhere, Soffio di foglie (Breath of Leaves) records the artist’s breath as a physical imprint on boxwood leaves. The intimate connection between air, form, and body unfolds before your eyes. And it’s strangely moving.
Then there’s A occhi chiusi (With Eyes Closed), a series that explores the tension between seeing and imagining. First conceived in 1970, Penone’s reflective contact lenses blind him while gazing directly at the camera. The result? A confrontation with perception itself.
The Tree as a Sculptor’s Muse
Penone once said the tree is “the most simple idea of vitality, of culture, of sculpture.” And boy, does he deliver. The exhibition traces his journey from early experiments in the 1960s to his masterful recent works. Highlights include Alberi libro (Book Trees)—a row of carved saplings representing a poetic forest of memory.
Outside the gallery windows, the Gesti vegetali (Vegetal Gestures) series brings human motion and plant growth into harmony. These bronze sculptures sit in pots, gesturing to the trees beyond. It’s a cheeky, brilliant nod to art’s place in the everyday.
Penone’s Arte Povera Legacy—and Why It Still Matters
For those less familiar, Arte Povera emerged in 1960s Italy as a movement that shunned commercial gloss in favour of raw materials and emotional honesty. Penone’s contributions stood out for their quiet intensity. His art doesn’t scream. It whispers. And somehow, that whisper resonates louder than most of what you’ll see this year.
Shoreditch creatives, take note. Thoughts in the Roots is a masterclass in turning elemental gestures into universal statements. It also proves that thoughtful art can still punch hard—and grow deep.
Plan Your Visit
Catch the exhibition at Serpentine South from 3 April to 7 September 2025. Admission is free, as always, and you’ll want to return more than once. This is one of those rare shows that evolves with each visit—depending on the light, the season, or your own mood.
And if you’re already sketching ideas on napkins in Shoreditch cafés, know this: Penone’s art will water those creative roots.
Don’t just view it. Feel it. Breathe it. Question it. Let Thoughts in the Roots grow on you.
