Il Pianeta delle farfalle
The Planet of Butterflies
Yuri Catania transforms the Lamone and Cadempino School with an imposing flower-powered rocket
Opening: October 24, 2025, 4:30 PM Location: Lamone and Cadempino School grounds, Canton Ticino
Lamone and Cadempino welcome a large-scale street art installation by Yuri Catania: The Planet of Butterflies, a 10-meter-high, 2.3-meter-diameter installation that redefines the dialogue between nature and technology in public space.
THE ARTWORK
A space rocket reaching toward the sky, fueled not by propellants but by the vital, colorful force of flowers from Rovio, the dahlia garden where the artist lives and works at the foot of Monte Generoso. Created using the paste-up technique, the installation presents a powerful visual duality: on one side, the technological precision of the space vehicle; on the other, a chromatic explosion of hundreds of flowers that transform the metallic surface into a dreamlike vertical garden.
The work embodies Catania's poetics, which for years has explored the symbiotic relationship between nature and technology, inviting viewers to imagine new possibilities for harmonious coexistence.
THE PARTICIPATORY PROJECT
The Planet of Butterflies is a collective work. All the school's children actively participated in the creative process, collaborating with the artist in cutting and pasting the floral elements. This participatory approach transforms the installation into an educational experience that celebrates creativity, teamwork, and reflection on biodiversity themes.
PROJECT GENESIS
The work originated from the encounter between Sara Ruscitti, an occupational therapist and art collector, and Yuri Catania. In 2023, the artist had already created a site-specific mural for the OBIETTIVOErgoterapia studio in Lamone, also titled The Planet of Butterflies. The success of that first collaboration, designed to meet the therapeutic needs of the children treated at the studio, generated this new monumental-scale project, intended for the entire school community.
The goal remains to create a creative universe infused with positive messages, a space where young people can reflect on the importance of nature and respect for biodiversity.
In collaboration with ObiettivoErgoterapia
Commited by Municipality of Lamone-Cadempino Canton Ticino, CH
Watch video on Youtube: Il Pianeta delle Farfalle: il Viaggio by Yuri Catania
Press coverage:
Inagurazione: Guarda il video
Corriere del Ticino: Verso il pianeta delle farfalle
TIO 20 min: Un razzo di fiori e colori decolla a Lamone
La Regione: Nel cortile della scula di Lamone-Cadempino c'è un razzo fiorito
