The SentinelSprings Italian partner, the University of Turin (UNITO), has created an exciting bridge between science and art to highlight sustainability efforts through an original springs-inspired painting initiative.
The project, entitled “Correnti Metropolitane – Le acque di Torino tra arte, scienza e sostenibilità” (“Metropolitan Currents – The Waters of Turin between Art, Science and Sustainability”), is an artistic initiative led by artist Roberto Ghezzi.
The project explores the dialogue between art and science as a means of offering new perspectives on sustainability and our relationship with the environment. The first stage of the initiative took place at Fontanile Biarone in Vigone, one of the living labs monitored under SentinelSprings, where Ghezzi installed the first Naturografie canvases.
The Naturografia technique involves placing a cotton canvas within the spring for a period of two months, allowing the ecosystem itself to naturally alter and “paint” its surface over time. Through the interaction of water, sediments, microorganisms and natural processes, the environment becomes the artist, creating unique works that capture the identity and dynamics of the ecosystem.
Through this innovative technique, scientific research and artistic practice come together to tell the story of the connection between water, nature and the urban environment, demonstrating how interdisciplinary approaches can inspire greater awareness and appreciation of our natural resources.
The initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the City of Turin’s Department of Public Green Areas, the Turin Botanical Garden, and the Regional Museum of Natural Sciences of Turin, with the scientific participation of the Department of Earth Sciences and the Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology of the University of Turin.
