Cara Catastrofe is a project that explores the fascination with disasters and the macabre attraction we feel toward catastrophic phenomena. Combining objective data with subjective perspectives, the artwork reflects on how our vision of the future has shifted—from the optimistic, science-fiction imagery of the past to today’s prevailing catastrophic and apocalyptic narratives—and how we have gradually become accustomed to these scenarios in everyday life.
The data-driven video was projected onto the wall of the “Alto Forno” at the former Gazometro in Rome during Videocittà 2023, the festival of digital vision and culture. It was presented as part of the collective exhibition Futura, alongside international studios and designers, and served as the backdrop for performances by artists including The Blaze and Dixon.
The soundtrack was composed and recorded by Tommaso Marconi, featuring an edited version of high’n’bike from his latest album Pretend to be Human.
The video exhibition is made of 4 different layers of data-driven animations, each layer representing different aspects of the catastrophes.
Data were collected, selected and organized by clusters to compare the topics.
The alteration of the typography is made by data about intensity and duration. The intensity is calculated each time on a specific disaster.
The background color defines the origin of the event.
The whole artwork has been divided into a grid that allows to compare multiple events within the same category at the same time.
A selection of comments and headlines from italian and international social media (such as Facebook or Reddit) and newspapers
The black shapes expanding from the windows of the structure to the whole stage represent data about the victims
Made at Mistaker with Alessandra Bassini
Photography by Giulia Volino
Typeface in use is GT Pressura by Grilli Type