Lvgaxy Astro Flowers: Art & Science at USI with Claude Nicollier & Yuri Catania

yuri230
Jan 23
2 min read

From the Wall to the Future: Yuri Catania’s Street Art and Claude Nicollier Supporting USI Talents

When Yuri Catania created the Lvgaxy Astro Flowers installation on the façade of the Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano in September 2023, he envisioned a dialogue between the Earth and space, bridging the ephemeral nature of flowers with the infinite realm explored by science. However, the artist could hardly have imagined that this ephemeral artwork would transform into such tangible support for the future of brilliant young minds.

Today, Yuri Catania shares a significant milestone: the transformation of urban art into educational opportunity at the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI).

The Meeting of Art and Science: Yuri Catania and Claude Nicollier

The protagonist of Catania’s mural, the Swiss astronaut Claude Nicollier, is not only an icon of space exploration but a figure of extraordinary humanity. During the "Bits of Art" event, the artist had the honor of standing beside Nicollier at USI for a truly special occasion.

Together, they signed a limited series of Fine Art prints derived from the Lvgaxy Astro Flowers mural. It was a powerful moment: the artist and the subject of the work, united not just by a signature on paper, but by a shared intent. Seeing Nicollier sign his artistic representation, surrounded by the flowers Catania photographed in the gardens of Lugano, closed a perfect circle between creativity and scientific discovery.

An Auction for the Future: 3 Scholarships Donated

Art must have an impact; it must stir the conscience, but it can also do good in a concrete way. The signed prints were auctioned, and the results exceeded expectations.

Thanks to the generosity of the donors and the project promoted by the Faculty of Informatics at USI, the proceeds fully funded 3 scholarships for deserving students of the Bachelor in Informatics.

Knowing that this work, which began as a paste-up on the city walls, is now contributing to training the computer scientists of tomorrow is a testament to the power of art. It is proof that culture is a unique ecosystem, where visual art can nourish science and vice versa.

The Legacy of Lvgaxy Astro Flowers

Although street art is by nature destined to fade or change with time, the message of Lvgaxy Astro Flowers remains indelible. Seeds were planted through this project. Three of these seeds will now sprout in the classrooms of USI, carrying forward that drive towards innovation and discovery that Claude Nicollier embodies so perfectly.

Yuri Catania extends his heartfelt thanks to USI, Rector Luisa Lambertini, and of course, Claude Nicollier for believing in the power of this collaboration.