Sturm&Drang: Behind the Scenes of CGI at Osservatorio Prada

Osservatorio Prada in Milan presents 'Sturm&Drang,' an exhibition that strips computer-generated imagery (CGI) of its visual allure to expose the austere, anonymous labor behind it. Curated by Luigi Alberto Cippini of Armature Globale and Fredi Fischli and Niels Olsen of ETH Zurich's Department of Architecture, the show reconstructs cramped, screen-filled workspaces where CGI artists toil. The title references both the literary movement Sturm und Drang and the dual nature of CGI—its ability to create realistic and fantastical images. Cippini explains the aim is to provide critical autonomy to CGI literature, moving beyond software manuals. Fischli and Olsen draw parallels between the youthful, tutorial-driven CGI community and the Sturm und Drang movement's emphasis on emotional immersion. The exhibition avoids interactivity, instead offering 'pure spatial intelligence' using exploited materials. Post-show, materials will relocate to ETH Zurich to establish a CGI museum in an underground parking lot. The show includes a nod to William Gibson's 'Neuromancer,' highlighting the enduring relevance of cyberpunk aesthetics and the unchanged spatial conditions of CGI work. Curators emphasize the hidden producers—programmers, designers, and artists—behind the industry, often exploited by corporations. The exhibition runs at Fondazione Prada's Osservatorio in Milan, with photography by Jacopo Farina.