Studio Eness Brings Interactive AI Mountains to Reggio Emilia

Australian creative collective Studio Eness has unveiled a new immersive installation titled 'The Whispering Mountains' in Reggio Emilia, Italy, following their controversial 2025 Christmas installation of giant inflatable rocks in Bologna's Piazza Maggiore. The interactive mountains, located outside the I Petali shopping center, will remain on view until July 26. The installation uses LED eyes and AI-generated voice messages to engage visitors in a dialogue between artificial intelligence, nature, and spirituality. Studio Eness founder Nimrod Weis describes the work as an attempt to create a 'sentient' piece that recognizes human existence, transforming mountains into living entities. The mountains awaken and light up as visitors pass, whispering thoughts and reflections reminiscent of ancient oracles. Weis notes that the collective has long worked with AI to generate poetic and profound reflections on humanity, neither for nor against the technology but questioning its capacity for deep thought. 'The Whispering Mountains' is part of the Modern Guru project, which won the FRAME Exhibition of the Year Award 2024. The installation blends art and technology in public spaces, offering a hypnotic experience of pulsating lights, enigmatic words, and timeless landscapes.