Welcome to the Jungle is a chapter-based project. It started with a personal reflection on the contemporary art system, on its dynamics and protagonists. The core of the project includes a series of dioramas that give the entire project its name. With this series, Urso engages in a playful dialogue with 20th-Century masters from the art field. In each box, the masters/superheroes are placed in a hostile environment. The jungle is, indeed, the art system itself. A museum can be seen on the horizon, surrounded by predators and other animals,; it stands out in a forest, far away and difficult to reach. However, the example of these great artists shows that it is possible to get there. The series is a meditation on the contemporary art system by reading about the experiences of past artists.

The second “chapter” of the series features three large-scale collages (framed on wooden supports with transparent backgrounds), especially focusing on the role of museums and the audience within the art system. The three colleges represent the Guggenheim Museum (New York City), The National Gallery (London) and MAXXI (Rome). The buildings stand out in the natural setting, surrendered by people and the museum’s visitors. The idea is to reflect on the role of the museum institution, its allure and its seductive power.

The last part of the series includes four dioramas: each one was created by layering several sheets of transparent glass, assembled inside a wooden structure. Each piece of the series represents contemporary worldwide celebrated artworks, by artists, such as Wim Delvoy, Damien Hirst, Maurizio Cattelan and Katarzyna Kozera. The work is placed at the center of the composition, surrounded by people: the audience takes part in the spectacular exhibition of the piece. However, all the scenes take place on a deserted background. The series is a reflection on the role of glamour and hype in the contemporary art system. Note: the observer can interact with the works, sliding the glass sheets, moving the various figures and changing the scene.