Convergences. Creative Research at the Nexus of Art and Science by Veronica Di Geronimo

"Convergences. Creative Research at the Nexus of Art and Science" presents conversations with four renowned Italian artists who combine their artistic expression with scientific disciplines. The series spotlights José Angelino, Federica Di Carlo, Fuse*, and Luca Pozzi, focusing on how scientific research influences their art, and the methodology adopted in their artistic research. This initiative is part of a wider program by CARE Lab, a transdisciplinary research laboratory based at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, in partnership with the National Institute of Nuclear Physics at Roma Tre University. Through these four engaging interviews, the series sheds light on the artists' perspectives and investigative techniques, offering insights into the complex and varied connections and research opportunities that emerge at the intersection of art and science. Ph: Enrico Bernieri, Cinzia pietribiasi, Dumbbell Nebula, 2023

CONVERGENCES. CREATIVE RESEARCH AT THE NEXUS OF ART AND SCIENCE.

INTERVIEWS WITH JOSE' ANGELINO, FEDERICA DI CARLO, FUSE*, AND LUCA POZZI.

by Veronica Di Geronimo

The convergence of art and science is a dynamic and ever-evolving field that can challenge, enlighten, and surprise thanks to its multifaceted potential. Artists working at the intersection of the two disciplines explore boundaries in an in-between space, stepping out of their comfort zones (Schnugg 2019, 55), and weaving experimental practice-based research with scientific investigation. The project Convergences. Creative Research at the Nexus of Art and Science aims to provide insights from artists whose practice and artistic expressions draw upon nuclear physics, biology, and natural sciences, to shed light on some invisible aspects that prelude their production. Indeed, this series of conversations with four renowned Italian artists intends to gather primary sources outlining their main projects and the relevant research methodology, working methods, and artworks’ conception.

The Italian artist and physicist José Angelino explores the interplay of randomness, unpredictability, and the physical properties of matter in his artwork, drawing upon his expertise in nuclear physics to create pieces that reveal the scientific laws underlying the world's energy flows.

Federica Di Carlo, on her hand, conveys the aesthetic beauty of decaying nature, frequently drawing upon mythological references to provide a philosophical framework for science. While deeply immersed in the analytical observation of natural phenomena, she questions the pertinence of the “art-science” label.

Fuse*, the Italian digital art studio, merges art, science, and technology, leveraging collaborations with diverse experts from fields like neuroscience. Their intricate team coordination optimizes workflows, uses technology as an expressive tool, and aims to make invisible processes aesthetically perceptible.

The interview with Luca Pozzi concludes the series. The artist combines the worlds of art, nuclear physics, and computer science, drawing inspiration from the collaboration with scientific communities. Through his projects, Pozzi showcases the intricate relationship between art and science, adopting mediation as the main approach.

Although the various nuances and dynamics beyond the production of the artists interviewed capture the multiple possibilities of artistic research in relation to science, similar perspectives and views emerge from their experience, debunking the mutual prejudices of art and science in terms of research methodology, which have much more in common than is usually considered. To conclude with the words of the Nobel Prize for Physics Giorgio Parisi: "In the finished product, in sciences as well as in poetry, the toil and turmoil of creation, with all its doubts and hesitations, remain unseen” ( Parisi 2021, 19).

The series of interviews has been conceived as a complementary initiative of CARE (Creative Artistic Research Ecosystem) LAB, a transdisciplinary laboratory that stems from the partnership established by The Fine Arts Academy of Rome and The National Institute for Nuclear Physics (University of Roma Tre), within the framework of the European Project EU4ART_differences. I express profound gratitude to the artists who have contributed to this series: José Angelino, Federica Di Carlo, Fuse*, and Luca Pozzi who accepted to take part in this project with generosity and kindness.

References

- Schnugg, Claudia. 2019. Creating ArtScience Collaboration. Bringing Value to Organization. Cham (Switzerland): Palgrave Macmillan.

Parisi, Giorgio. 2021. In un volo di storni. Le meraviglie dei sistemi complessi. Milano: Rizzoli

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