Torino's Luci d'Artista public art project faces decline

The Luci d'Artista project in Turin, once a pioneering public art initiative that transformed Christmas lights into contemporary artworks, is now in decline. Launched in the 1990s, it featured site-specific works by artists like Mario Merz and Vanessa Safavi, making Turin a capital of contemporary art in Italy and Europe. However, new productions have dwindled, and recent decisions by Mayor Chiara Appendino's administration have been criticized. Last year, an artwork by Vanessa Safavi was moved to the periphery without explanation, leading to vandalism. This year, the Mole Antonelliana, symbol of Turin and home to the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, will be illuminated with 2,500 LEDs by energy company Iren, replacing Mario Merz's Fibonacci sequence. The new installation, dubbed 'Strobomole,' features stroboscopic blue lights, drawing comparisons to the Eiffel Tower's beacon. Critics argue the project has lost its artistic vision, with maintenance issues and lack of community involvement. The article, by Marco Enrico Giacomelli on Artribune, laments the decline of a once-celebrated public art program.