A curation by Raffaella Nobili, Owner and curator at Paraventi Giapponesi - The butterfly is a symbol that spans all cultures, embodying an artistic topos that evolves over time. It evokes the idea of transformation and a gentle soul: from the Greek psyche to the Chinese symbol of good luck, from Japanese impermanence to Jungian metamorphosis. In Mexico, it is linked to the Day of the Dead as a messenger of the ancestors. In ancient art, it accompanies the soul; in Japanese ukiyo-e, it is an emblem of ephemeral grace; in Symbolism, it becomes a mystical image. In contemporary times, Damien Hirst uses it as a sign of life and death, while Carlos Amorales transforms the flock of birds into a disturbing vision. Ever-changing, sometimes colorful and reassuring, sometimes monochrome and restless, the butterfly remains a universal archetype capable of condensing complexity and grace into a symbol of ephemeral beauty.