Cara Catastrofe

Cara Catastrofe is a project about the fascination we have for disasters and catastrophes and the macabre attraction we feel towards these phenomena. Using objective and subjective data, the artwork represents how the concept of the future has shifted from positive science fiction imagery to a catastrophic and apocalyptic one, and how people become accustomed to these scenarios day after day.

The data-driven video was projected on the wall of the Alto Forno of the former Gazometro in Rome during Videocittà 2023 (a festival of digital vision and culture) behind the stage where various artists played, including The Blaze and Dixon. As such, it was part of the collective exhibition Futura, together with studios and designers from around the world.

The soundtrack was recorded by Tommaso Marconi, featuring an edit of “high’n’bike”, a track from his latest album Pretend to be Human.

The video is made of four different layers working together simultaneously. The alteration of the typography is driven by data about the intensity and duration of disasters. The background color indicates the origin of each event. The whole artwork is divided into a grid that allows for the comparison of multiple events within the same category. Additionally, there is a selection of comments and headlines from Italian and international social media platforms (such as Facebook or Reddit) and newspapers. The black shapes expanding from the windows of the structure to the whole stage represent data about victims.