Updated: 3 days ago
Yuri Catania Unveils "Lugaxy Astro Forest" to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Lugano Congress Palace
Yuri Catania celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Lugano Congress Palace with his third monumental installation, "Lugaxy Astro Forest," transforming the Palace's facade into a breathtaking tribute to the forests that surround Lugano. This latest work serves as a powerful reminder that no separation exists between urban and natural landscapes – that humanity and nature exist in constant dialogue.
The "Lugaxy Astro Forest" installation represents the culmination of a three-year artistic journey that began with "Lugaxy Astro Flowers" and continued with "Lugaxy Astro Lake." Rather than replacing these previous works, the new installation creates innovative overlays, building upon the existing elements to craft a surreal, dreamlike composition where the flowers of Ciani Park and the aquatic beings of Lake Ceresio now coexist with mushrooms and butterflies native to the region.
"This project is an invitation to rediscover and value our urban forests," explains Catania. "Many people know Lugano's parks, gardens, and lakefront, but few realize that over 60% of the municipal territory is covered by forests. These green spaces are not only beautiful and quiete but are also fundamental to biodiversity and the health of our urban ecosystem."
At the heart of all three installations stands the iconic astronaut figure – a tribute to Switzerland's astronaut, Claude Nicollier, and a symbol of human genius, curiosity, and technological capability. However, in Catania's vision, the astronaut transcends mere technology, becoming a bridge between our scientific future and our human, natural present.
"The astronaut chooses to immerse himself in the nature of our territory to remain part of it," Catania notes. "This figure becomes the symbolic bridge between our scientific and technological future and our human and natural present. It's a call not to lose our connection with the physical world – with trees, flowers, water, and forests."
Revolutionary Paste-Up Technique on Epic Scale
Catania's distinctive paste-up technique involves creating, printing, and meticulously cutting out images and photographs on paper, which are then applied directly to urban surfaces. However, his approach transcends traditional street art decoration, transforming public spaces into symbolic, poetic locations capable of telling collective stories.
The ephemeral nature of the work is central to its philosophy. Created with natural, biodegradable, and sustainable materials, the installations are designed to be temporary, transforming over time without leaving permanent traces. "It's an art that lives and transforms: it's born, ages, and dies, remaining in the city's memory," Catania explains.
Community Engagement at the Core
True to Catania's participatory approach, "Lugaxy Astro Forest" actively involves the local population in its creation. The artist invites community members to help cut out paper elements – mushrooms, forest animals, and butterflies – and participate in the mounting process, creating a sense of belonging and community ownership.
Public Participation Schedule:
Installation Period: July 7-13, 2025
Community Participation: July 10-13, 2025
Activity: Cutting out mushrooms, forest animals, and butterflies
Registration: Mandatory through the MyLugano application
"Art Will Save the World" – A Philosophy of Hope
The motto "Art Will Save the World" drives Catania's vision. "It's not just a slogan: it's hope, a wish, a responsibility," he states. "For Lugano and the world of congress tourism, it means believing that art is not an ornament but an engine of change, dialogue, and shared beauty."
This anniversary installation represents more than artistic celebration – it's a statement about the future. "In such a special year, I want to celebrate not only the past of this place but also its future," Catania reflects. "To transform the walls of this house that hosts the world in Lugano into a symbol of continuity, transformation, and rebirth, where technological innovation and environmental and civil sustainability can coexist in harmony."
The "Lugaxy Astro Forest" installation transforms the Congress Palace into a living canvas where the boundaries between urban architecture and natural environment dissolve, creating a space for reflection, wonder, and community connection that will resonate with visitors from around the world.
Updated: 3 days ago
On January 22, 2025, the skyline of Lugano was transformed by an extraordinary artistic intervention: "Astro Credy," a 550-square-meter glass-based artwork by Swiss-Italian artist Yuri Catania, now wraps the three façades of Credinvest Bank's headquarters. The installation, which also enters the building's interior, stands as a monumental symbol of innovation, growth, and the human spirit.
Rather than opting for a traditional billboard, Credinvest Bank chose to tell its story through art—and Catania delivered. Known for his large-scale paste-up street art, poetic post-photography, and immersive installations, Catania transformed the bank into an open-sky aquarium of imagination and identity. "Astro Credy" represents a groundbreaking dialogue between architecture, corporate culture, and visual storytelling.
At the heart of the work is a powerful female astronaut figure, embodying strength, determination, and the courage to explore uncharted futures. Surrounded by local flora such as dahlias, peonies, and butterflies native to Ticino, she symbolizes the harmony between technological advancement and the rooted beauty of nature. It is a vibrant tribute to the values of Credinvest Bank: resilience, inclusivity, creativity, and progress.
The piece was not only conceived by the artist but created in collaboration with the bank's employees and their families, who actively participated in the cutting and assembling of elements. This collective act of creation elevated "Astro Credy" from a commissioned artwork to a shared experience.
More than a façade, it stands as a statement of intent: a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and human-centric progress.
Credinvest Bank's investment in art reflects its wider commitment to wellness, personal development, and community building. From staff coaching programs to wellness weekends and partnerships with local universities, the bank places human value at the core of its growth strategy. The choice to portray a woman as the central figure is also a conscious reflection of the bank’s commitment to diversity, equality, and the empowerment of talent across genders.
In a world where financial institutions are often seen as rigid, "Astro Credy" opens a new path—one where art, architecture, and corporate vision converge to inspire. Through this collaboration with Yuri Catania, Credinvest Bank has not only redefined its physical presence but also asserted a powerful message: the future belongs to those who imagine it.
Updated: Apr 20
Yuri Catania was selected to create the visual identity for the Università della Svizzera Italiana's (USI) groundbreaking communication campaign, "Play Your Future." This innovative project seamlessly blends art, technology, and education, celebrating the potential and personal growth of students.
Known for his ephemeral street art and expertise in merging physical and digital mediums, Catania brought his signature style to this campaign. His work features black-and-white photographic portraits enhanced with vibrant over-paintings, symbolizing the natural process of growth and the unique potential within each individual. The chromatic and botanical elements in his art emphasize the diversity of academic journeys, with each faculty represented by a distinct color palette.
Catania’s ability to craft a dialogue between human subjects and natural motifs reflects the spirit of USI as a fertile ground for students to thrive and blossom, personally and academically.
USI Rector, Luisa Lambertini, statement: "I am grateful to Yuri Catania for visually expressing the growth of our students as a natural, dynamic, and personal process. USI offers precisely this: an inclusive space to grow, learn, engage internationally, and cultivate talent, setting the stage for their future."
Through this collaboration, Yuri Catania continues to redefine the boundaries of contemporary art, intertwining innovation and tradition in ways that inspire.
Explore the campaign and discover more.
Play your future at USI and Join Us: https://join.usi.ch/en/play-your-future#behind
The choice of flowers serves as a metaphor for USI as fertile ground where students can grow and bloom to their full potential. Each painting, enriched with vibrant colors, reflects the distinct identity of USI’s faculties: green for Economics, blue for Communication, yellow for Informatics, red for Biomedicine, gray for Architecture, and violet for Theology. This chromatic and botanical language underscores the uniqueness of every academic and personal development journey, creating a dialogue between the subject of the image and the artist’s intervention, which symbolizes growth.
Thanks to the augmented reality software Artivive, these images come to life with videos that narrate the personal experiences of the protagonists, illustrating how USI helped launch (Play) their journeys. Additionally, another layer of the original works is revealed only in the dark, through their interaction with UV light.
The communication campaign also includes artistic installations across USI’s campuses: five “Paste-up” artworks and a special installation to be unveiled during USI’s Open Day on May 10, 2025 (Universo: www.usi.ch/universo). The university community will actively participate in creating these artistic pieces, with moments dedicated to engaging the broader public, especially younger generations, who will have the opportunity to connect with the artist and contribute to his works.
Play your future Yuri Catania USI Università Svizzera Italiana