Blue Hole Art Gallery Opens at Citylab 971 in Rome with Tech-Infused Approach

Blue Hole Art Gallery, a new contemporary art space focusing on technology and multimedia, is set to open at Citylab 971 in Rome. Citylab 971, a complex dedicated to social and cultural projects, launched in early summer within the former Ex Cartiera Salaria factory. Its renovation was led by URBAN VALUE by Ninetynine in collaboration with the Comune di Roma, CDP, and Visionart. The space previously hosted ARE Festival, a mixed arts festival featuring theater, short films, and concerts, and includes a 1,400-square-meter Urban Art intervention by artist Emmeu on four exterior walls. The gallery's name references freediver Enzo Majorca, who in 1962 surpassed the presumed 50-meter depth limit, demonstrating the Bloody Shift phenomenon. Gallerist Valentina Ferrari explains that the gallery metaphorically represents an abyss once considered impassable, aiming to push beyond conventional boundaries by integrating art and technology. The gallery will use VR headsets to let visitors experience the creation of exhibited artworks in virtual reality. Starting November 2019, events and exhibitions will be available in 360-degree format on the gallery's website. The inaugural exhibition, "eo/hoc ipso tempore" by Sebastiano Bottaro (born 1993 in Noto), opens October 12, 2019, coinciding with Roma Art Week (October 21-26, 2019). The show features abstract works on canvas evoking the philosophical concept of timelessness.