This virtual artefact visualises data about the COVID-19 pandemic in the form of a particle system. The most relevant data about the virus outbreak is mapped to variables that modify the shape and colour of the system. The work was conceived and developed in Italy during the period of lockdown, introduced to combat the spread of COVID-19. At the very beginning of the artist's confinement at home – every day at 18:00 – he turned on the news for updates on the virus situation. After a week or two, the numbers overwhelmed him and stopped making any sense. The artist then used the data that was making him feel so uneasy and began representing it in a more soothing way. This work encourages reflection on the world’s situation and reminds the viewer of the importance of compliance with the lockdown measures.

The title of this work, #iorestoacasa, translates to ‘I stay at home’ and pays tribute to the communal world effort to slow the disease's spread thus relieving pressure on healthcare systems.

‍

Mattia Spagnuolo is a creative soul in the body of a technically minded problem solver: halfway between a nerd and an artist. A strong background in engineering and mathematics, together with his creative vein, gives him a unique perspective on the projects he works on, which live at the intersection between art, design and technology.