During the opening day of Robot Valley Genova 2025, a roundtable took place, featuring a stimulating dialogue between art, science, and technology. The discussion highlighted innovative projects that demonstrate how creativity can serve as a meeting point between seemingly distant yet deeply interconnected worlds.
Robot Valley, a place where technology and art merge, provided the perfect stage to explore how science can be conveyed through art, transforming scientific research into a form of visual and interactive expression.
Marco Nereo Rotelli, Alessio Bertallot, Luca Marazzini, Antonio Alfano and Alessandro Piano participated in the roundtable, moderated by Marco Faimali, coordinator of Spoke 3 of RAISE and scientific director of the Institute for the Study of Anthropogenic Impacts and Marine Sustainability (IAS-CNR), and Maurizio Gregorini, artistic director of Robot Valley. They took the opportunity to share with the audience the details of two extraordinary projects that blend art and science: Bio Alter Ego and Angel Robot.
The Bio Alter Ego project, curated by artist Alessandro Piano, presents an innovative installation displayed at Villa Durazzo Bombrini. Alter Ego Maxi RAISE, a 170 cm fiberglass sculpture with a hollow body, hosts a saltwater aquarium inside, symbolizing the connection between nature, art, and science. Inside it, Alter Ego BIG LUDO, a small 40 cm sculpture, was immersed in the sea off the coast of Camogli for nine months. During this period, Ludo became home to a variety of microorganisms, thus becoming a witness to a scientific journey that merges marine biology with contemporary art. At the same time, a smaller version of the sculpture, Alter Ego LUDO, was immersed in the port of Genoa at the CNR’s Experimental Marine Station, providing a contrast between the two marine environments. The scientific analysis of both objects, conducted by Faimali’s team, highlighted the importance of these experiments in studying the anthropogenic impact on the sea.
Meanwhile, in Largo Pertini, another fascinating artwork is on display: Angel Robot, a hologram created by artist Marco Nereo Rotelli in collaboration with Alessio Bertallot and with technical contributions from Luca Marazzina and Antonio Alfano, supported by ELITAL. Installed inside a futuristic container, the hologram represents a mechanical angel that dances, symbolizing the relationship between humans and machines. From April 10th to 16th, the public can interact with the piece, which will offer AI-generated poems as a tribute to Italian poetic tradition, thanks to collaboration with Luca Andrea Marazzina. At night, the installation transforms into an immersive experience, projecting verses that the artist received as a gift from Genoese poet Edoardo Sanguineti.
“I believe that progress happens when a research or a new technology creates benefits for everyone – and this also applies to art. Art, in itself, is a restricted territory; however, I work on opening it up. My work incorporates many forms of knowledge, ranging from ancient wisdom to the most advanced technologies. My latest works are created in collaboration with scientists because science creates knowledge, and art represents it. It is also important to discuss the boundaries that art can reach. An interesting quote from the great Frank Zappa comes to mind, who said: ‘I want electronic instruments because musicians make fewer mistakes’. Now, this may sound like a joke, but in my opinion, it encapsulates a form of thought. Between Frank’s voice, his guitar, and everything around it, an idea emerges: rethinking everything as an orchestra. I believe that the movement we should invest in is precisely this: an orchestra that brings together art, science, technology, and ancient wisdom, so that we can always become a platform for common action” commented artist Marco Nereo Rotelli.
“I created the Alter Egos so they could be an opportunity for Encounter. Because I wanted them to become a window into other worlds. Art, for me, is a bridge that helps with self-expression, and both the bridge and the window are, as master Rotelli rightly pointed out, important symbols of openness. The Alter Ego MAXI Raise is the synthesis of all this. It is Art, it is play, it is inclusion, it is an opportunity for meeting among all the realities that participated in this project, and it is a window into the world of marine Biodiversity—a world that must be observed, studied, but respected while keeping the right distance,” says Alessandro Piano at the end of the roundtable discussion.
These projects provide a concrete demonstration of how art can tell and enrich science and how technology can be used to create new forms of cultural expression. The fusion of these different disciplines not only enriches the artistic landscape but also contributes to a deeper reflection on our relationship with the environment, technology, and creativity.
