During the artist residency R.A.M. – Ritratto a Mano 3.0, Federico Severino created a site-specific intervention immersed in the evocative nature of the Orfento Valley in Caramanico Terme, located within the Majella National Park. For this project, the artist used two small-format canvases, made with oil pastels on canvas board, which were placed directly within the surrounding natural environment. The works emerged from a careful observation of the volcanic and mountainous landscape, through which Severino sought to capture and translate the vibrations, colors, and unique atmospheres of the area, creating a true sensory and intimate “portrait” of the place.
The residency, curated by Giuliana Benassi and Giuseppe Pietroniro, was enriched by the experience and support of artist tutor Gianni Caravaggio, who guided and inspired the creative journey of the participating artists.

The decision to install the canvases amidst nature, within the evocative former Convent of the Poor Clares, nestled between the Maiella and Morrone mountains and overlooking the valleys of the Orfento and Orte rivers, creates a poetic and profound dialogue between history, environment, and contemporary art.

Severino’s intervention thus emphasizes the deep relationship between human beings and the landscape, dissolving the boundaries between artwork and nature, and inviting the viewer to an immersive and contemplative experience.