A large-scale artistic project is about to transform the “under the Cube” of the West Campus of the Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI) in Lugano. The artist Yuri Catania has started the construction of Universe, a participatory work of art that promises to be a vibrant tribute to the academic community. From today – April 15 – to May 10, 2025, students, professors, administrative staff and anyone who gravitates around the university is called to become an integral part of this collective creation.
The centerpiece of the installation will be an imposing kaleidoscopic circle 20 meters in diameter, composed of over a thousand black and white photographic portraits. These faces, an expression of the diversity and unity that animates USI, will compose a human mosaic of great visual impact.
The work will be immersed in a symbolic garden of colorful flowers, where each shade will represent one of the university's faculties: green for Economics, blue for Communication, yellow for Computer Science, red for Biomedicine, gray for Architecture and purple for Theology.
This chromatic and botanical language takes up the concept of the campaign Play Your Future, conceived by Catania himself, underlining the uniqueness of each study path and personal growth, metaphorically compared to the blossoming of a seed in the fertile university environment.
The technique used for Universe is that of paste up, which uses biodegradable paper and glue, highlighting a sensitivity towards environmental sustainability.
Universe and participatory art
But the most innovative aspect of the project lies in its participatory nature. Yuri Catania actively invites the local community to contribute to the practical phases of preparation, cutting and gluing of both the flowers and the portraits. A concrete opportunity for USI members and others to leave a tangible mark within the work.
The visual experience of Universe will be further enriched by augmented reality, revealing exclusive content to those who interact with the installation through their digital devices. An additional level of reading that invites exploration and discovery.
Participation is open to anyone who wishes to dedicate an hour of their time to this collective project. A calendar has been prepared with the dates and times when the artist will be present to guide the participants. Registration is mandatory and the number of places is limited to ensure significant involvement for everyone.
For more details and also to register, you can see the dedicated link.
The inauguration
The official inauguration of Universe is scheduled for Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 13.00:XNUMX p.m., coinciding with the Open Day of the University of Italian Switzerland. This event will be a special opportunity to admire the completed work and to participate in moments of meeting and discussion with activities designed for all ages. The inauguration will be attended by prominent figures such as Michele Foletti, Mayor of the City of Lugano, Luisa Lambertini, Rector of USI, and of course Yuri Catania, the creator of this new form of participatory art.
