Plug In — Astolfo Maria Cicerano

Plug-In: A Fullness of Emptiness

Year: 2019
Location: Salerno Archaeological Museum, Salerno, Italy.
Role: Concept, Design & Fabrication
Type: Temporary Urban Installation
Status: Completed

The title "Plug-In" plays with confusion, linking what is digital to what is physical, even erotic, and letting that mix show through its shape.

An austere iron cage contains nothing but the air of 700 colorful balloons, illuminated from within by seven light bulbs. Inside the frame, the air trembles with color and light, held in place by something firm, almost severe. That contrast is where the work holds its tension.

The result is an object that is full, yet full of emptiness. It acts as a soft provocation, designed to dissolve the tension of formal analysis and instead trigger a sense of child-like wonder. This is an attempt to resolve the encounter with the other, not through complex theory, but through a simple image, one capable of eliciting a smile.

Conception & Fabrication

1. My Conceptual Framework

My foundational concept emerged from a dynamic interplay of form and context, creating a transformative intervention within the private courtyard of the historic museum. I intentionally generated a powerful contrast: a 'cage for air.' This dichotomy between permanence and ephemerality, and the dialogue between historical gravitas and contemporary lightness, were aimed at activating the courtyard and offering a reinterpretation of perception.

2. Modular Fabrication

I centered the fabrication on a 'plug-in' modular system that I designed for efficient on-site assembly. I meticulously crafted each section from precisely bent iron flats and reinforcing rods, ensuring structural integrity and ease of interconnection. This approach allowed for the construction of a large-scale installation with minimal specialized tooling, emphasizing adaptability and rapid deployment.

3. Scale & Human Interaction

Measuring 5.7 m (18.7 ft) in length, my design creates a profound spatial dialogue with the human body. Its conical form invites exploration and frames views. The relationship between the massive scale of the installation and the intimate human presence underscores my intent to reshape perception and participation within public spaces.

4. Luminous Integration

Internally, I designed the frame to house a simple yet robust electrical system. A central wiring spine that I engineered supports seven individual light sources, transforming the entire volume into a single, illuminated body. This approach gave the installation its ethereal quality at night and ensured ease of assembly.