Sacred Art 3.0

In 2015 I visited Piazza del Popolo, one of the most famous and significant squares in Rome. At the heart of the city, this square has a long history and is an important point of reference for residents and tourists alike.

Its ancient roots date back to Roman times when it was an obligatory passage point for those entering the city from the northern side. The square as we see it today is the result of an urban intervention in 1550 which has been modified over the centuries.

Piazza del Popolo has always been a meeting place and a point of socialization.  It is surrounded by cafes, shops and restaurants and is an important hub for those who move around the centre of Rome.

Located in the square is the Basilica of Santa Maria in Montesanto, a Baroque church which is one of two churches that stand on opposite sides of the square. It is called “Church of the Artists”. Its proximity to this important square which is a centre for art and culture, led to it being frequented by personalities from the art world over the centuries. It continues to be a meeting place for artists today

Looking back at my photos from 2015, I discovered a video I took of people walking across the square with the Church of the Artists in the background.  Little did i know then, that ten years later the figures in my iPhone artworks would “walk” across this square inviting visitors to the square to join them!

I am thrilled to announce my participation in the upcoming “Sacred Art 3.0” exhibition, set to take place at Rome’s historic Piazza del Popolo from19 February 2025 to 23 February 2025 between 7 PM and 11 PM. Celebrating the “Jubilee 2025”, this innovative event will inaugurate the “Jubilee of Artists” and transform the square into an open-air gallery, projecting digital artworks directly onto its pavements, thereby allowing visitors to engage with the pieces in a dynamic and immersive manner.

“Sacred Art 3.0”, under the patronage of the Pontifical Academy of Theology and the Basilica of Santa Maria in Montesano, has invited international artists to reinterpret traditional sacred themes through contemporary digital media. The selected artworks will be displayed in a continuous loop, accompanied by ambient music, creating a reflective and interactive atmosphere. The works will be projected from the Basilica onto the square. Attendees are encouraged to walk over the projections, becoming integral components of the art experience. The location for this event, and all the surrounding elements, make this space so special for such a project.

This project has been conceived by Paolo Ferigo and Stefano Favaretto who also acts as curator.  I have had the honour and pleasure to meet and collaborate with Stefano on various projects in the Spatial metaverse.

Diversity

As an iPhone artist, my creative process involves capturing fleeting moments through focused observation and deep listening to my surroundings. This practice allows me to perceive and convey the subtle energies and vibrations present in everyday life. Participating in this exhibition offers a unique opportunity to present my work in a format that encourages public interaction, aligning with my belief in art as a shared, communal experience. For this prestigious exhibition, my artworks have been animated to take my concept of stillness in movement into yet another dimension.

I am honored and humbled to contribute to this event, which seeks to make sacred art accessible and engaging to a broad audience. If you’re in Rome during these dates, I invite you to visit Piazza del Popolo to experience this fusion of tradition and technology firsthand. I will also share updates on my social media to share this immersive artistic journey with you.

Whispers of White

Inspired by the 1937 film “Lost Horizon”, the epic adventure “Journey to Shangri-La” can be found in the Spatial metaverse - an immersive, online space that can be experienced via laptop, tablet, mobile or VR headset, and in which users represented by avatars interact.

After watching a short film in a movie theatre, visitors to "Journey to Shangri-La" jump into snowy mountains only to discover that their plane has crashed. One now has to find one’s way to safety and serenity in the magical valley of Shangri-La, high in the Himalayas. Here people live in perfect harmony with nature and no one grows old. Via the lamasery of Shangri-La, one discovers how to find exclusive avatars, is directed to a magic boat ride and is also invited to explore the massive mountain terrain with breathtaking views. 

I am very excited to have been invited by Dave Fox, the builder of “Journey to Shangri-La”, to have a solo exhibition in a gallery in this space.

My exhibition ”Whispers of White” is an immersive exploration into the tranquil and ethereal world crafted through the lens of iPhone artistry. As a result of multi-sensory perception, this collection captures the unseen energies and unspoken moments in serene white hues.

”Whispers of White” invites the viewer to delve into a symphony of subtle shades, where every piece echoes calmness and purity. On this unique journey, each artwork whispers its own tale in white, and invites one to experience art beyond sight. 

It is my wish that like a prism separates white light into different colors, the spirit of each viewer may reveal hidden depths within these artworks.

You are invited to visit Journey to Shangri-La and encounter my exhibition. 

Whispers of White: 1 December 2024 - 31 December 2024

ANCESTRAL FUTURE

The theme for the 11th edition of the mObgraphia Awards held in Brazil is “ANCESTRAL FUTURE”. The winning works, shown in the Museum of Image and Sound in São Paolo, highlight the value of knowledge acquired in the past.  

This contest aimed to stimulate image production through mobile platforms (mobgraphy) in order to create a dialogue about this new form of communication through mobile photography.

Using the productive and creative features of current technologies, entrants were asked to depict how traditions can be valuable when looking to the future. A connection was proposed between cultural roots and the values passed down by previous generations, and present and future life. 

Looking at the speed of contemporary society, participants were asked to reflect on ancestral heritage that has been preserved. 

The exhibition “ANCESTRAL FUTURE" seeks to reconcile the past and the present, valuing traditional knowledge as a guide for overcoming current challenges in society, to lead to the creation of a more sustainable, ethical, moral, and balanced future.

I entered the Digital Art category of this Mobile Photo Festival 2024.  Out of the many images entered, these were narrowed down to ten. Then the final five were announced with the knowledge that these were the works that would be exhibited.

At the opening ceremony the winners of each category were announced.  I am truly honoured and excited to announce that my entry “Strength” was chosen as the winner of the “Arte Digital” category.  

This year mObgraphia entered the metaverse, and so although I was unable to attend the event in São Paolo, I was able to watch the event shown live in Art CIty in the Spatial metaverse and celebrate with friends from all over the world.