A curation by Raffaella Nobili, Owner and curator at Paraventi Giapponesi - In this selection, I have chosen to focus on the symbolic theme of the serpent, which artists have interpreted in diverse ways, using multiple techniques and forms. The serpent has always carried a multitude of meanings: a sacred guardian and bearer of wisdom, a symbol of healing coiled around the rod of Asclepius, but also a deceptive force in biblical myths. We find it entwined in Medusa's hair as an emblem of terror and power, or as a symbol of eternal rebirth through shedding its skin. A sensual and sinuous figure, it embodies opposites: life and death, desire and fear, danger and protection. It is an archetype that spans time and remains relevant today, reminding us that rebirth is possible only by traversing the realm of shadows.