Robot Festival Bologna Explores Borders Through Music and Art

The Robot Festival took place from June 18 to 20, 2021, at DumBO, a post-industrial complex in Bologna, Italy. Under the artistic direction of Marco Ligurgo, the festival's theme was "Borders," explored multidirectionally through electronic music, performances, and installations. The lineup included Eva Geist, Donato Dozzy, Caterina Barbieri, Lorenzo Senni, Khalab, Mai Mai Mai, Matt Bordin, Simona Faraone, Giancane, and Salò, who delivered a site-specific performance in four acts. Guiot performed algorithmic music with live coding alongside Umanesimo Artificiale. The festival featured installations such as Medusa by Sara Tirelli, a VR experience addressing collective memory and European identity crisis, and works by Project-TO and Above Human. Spaces included the BAIA (open square), Binario Centrale (seated listening), and Spazio Bianco (divided for new media art and performances). The event was organized in compliance with COVID-19 restrictions, which shaped the spatial experience. The festival also collaborated with shesaid.so Italy to promote gender equality in the music industry.