AKR at Palazzo Reale Palermo
“AKR” by Edoardo Dionea Cicconi at Palazzo Reale, Palermo
30 January 2023
The first of a series of public art installations that connect art & science. The site-specific installation
takes place on the terrace of Palazzo Reale in Palermo by the international artist who has been living
and working in Sicily since 2018.
ART & SCIENCE THROUGH MONUMENTAL INSTALLATIONS
Edoardo Dionea Cicconi’s projects make spectators aware of concepts related to science, as seen in
his latest installations at the MuMe Museum in front of two masterpieces by Caravaggio, at the
archaeological hall of the Branciforte Museum, and in his latest land-art projects in which “Time” and
“Space” were the main concepts.
These are universal themes that have a daily impact on our lives. This type of narrative is represented
through works with essential forms, or “timeless” sculptures.
On this occasion the artist, investigating the relationship between matter and light, has codified the
true colours of the aurora borealis in digital form. The installation is a sculpture of light in the sky,
with these colours in motion.
It is the first time that Cicconi uses light as the only medium, experimenting with new technologies.
The sculptural aurora becomes a phenomenon that can be enjoyed on a collective level, which leaves
the observer in suspense, and marks a new chapter in the artist’s research.
THE FIRST EXHIBITION ON THE PALAZZO REALE’S TERRACES IN PALERMO
The public art installation will be visible to all citizens all over the city, and will be set up for the first
time on the terraces of the Palazzo Reale (Palazzo dei Normanni) in Palermo. This location, probably
one of the most important and prestigious places in all of Sicily, was not chosen by chance. As well as
being the headquarters of ARS, which promoted and made this project possible, it is also the
headquarters of INAF – the National Institute of Astrophysics and the Palermo Astronomical
Observatory founded in 1790, and is the highest point in the city. The Observatory has over 200
years of glorious scientific history and was a pioneer of astrophysics, and boasts the discovery of
the first asteroid in the world called “Ceres Ferdinandea” (1801). Today, its activity includes various
areas of frontier research, such as the study of exoplanets, astrobiology and the chemistry of stars,
and X-ray astronomy.
“We are happy to collaborate with the artist”, The Director of INAF OAPa states, “This installation,
through art, ‘returns’ the aurora borealis to Palermo – this phenomenon was formerly observed by the
Observatory’s astronomers but today could hardly occur, given the light and air pollution of our city”. In
fact, not everyone knows that the Observatory archive holds three watercolours representing some
phases of the aurora observed in Caltagirone in Sicily in 1870.
The title of the exhibition, “AKR”, refers to the radio emissions naturally produced by planet Earth. The
most intense of these is a phenomenon called Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR) which is produced
in the auroral zones at an altitude of between 3000 and 20 000 kilometres. Since other planets also
emit cyclotron radiation, AKR could be used to learn more about Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune
and to detect extrasolar planets.
The project, made possible with the support of ARS – the Sicilian Regional Assembly, and with the
patronage of the MIC – the Ministry of Culture, Comune di Palermo, INAF – the National Institute of
Astrophysics, is supported by ANCE Palermo, Art Made in Sicily, and Vintage by Callari, and was
promoted by RESIN ETS. All realities actively promote the territory of Sicily, as well as the technical
partners “Sinergie Group” and “D&D Show”.
The GIBEL APS platforms will convey video insights and interviews, where researchers, scientists
and artists will question contemporary issues such as ecology, cohabitation, integration, future and
technology.
CICCONI’S WORKS AROUND ITALY
After Palermo, the installation will move to different locations in Milan, Florence, and Rome throughout
2023.