Gruppo78: 40 Years of Collective Art Practice in Trieste

Founded in 1978, Gruppo78 is an artist collective based in Trieste, Italy, born from the need to engage with contemporary art amid the closure of the Museo Revoltella for renovations. The group organized its first performances by Otto Mühl and Hermann Nitsch in 1978, sparking public controversy. Over four decades, the collective has produced nearly 600 initiatives, focusing on public art, performance, and the intersection of art, science, and technology. An exhibition titled 'Incursioni nello spazio pubblico' at the Museo Ferroviario di Trieste documents their history, including projects like 'Serial Public' (1997), 'Specchio d’Acqua', and 'La Città Radiosa'. The collective also collaborated with the 52nd Venice Biennale on 'Petrol Pax' with artist Eltjon Valle. In autumn 2018, Gruppo78 launched the first edition of the Festival of Art and Robotics, titled 'Digital Nature', exploring the integration of new technologies into nature and organic systems. Featured artists include Ken Rinaldo, Bill Vorn, Patrik Tresset, Paolo Gallina, Max Jurcev, Audint, Antnio Abad, Roberto Pugliese, Simone Pappalardo, Davide Quayola, and Donato Piccolo.