the street is our gallery

Lessons from the Past and Challenges for the Future. The Science Hall of Fame has been presented on Friday February the 2nd, at the Galleria Nazionale by Francesco Prosperetti, Special Superintendent of Archaeology, Arts and Landscape of Rome, Tiziana Coccoluto, Chief of Cabinet of Mibact, Marta Branca, General Director of the L. Spallanzani Hospital, Graffiti Zero’s Matteo Colavolpe, Curator of the project and the three artists involved in the project in Folchi Street. The National Institute for Infectious Diseases (Inmi) L. Spallanzani turns 80 years old: it’s one of our most excellent Research Centre and it reaches this important milestone showing its ability to adapt to the current scientific world and to a society that increasingly needs to be “protected” and “cared for”. That’s why the chance to get into the modernity and liveliness of Rome has allowed arts to enter into the city’s heart and to spread knowledge about Spallanzani Hospital and its history. From the Inmi’s management itself, arose the idea of a mural offering a modern, joyful, future-looking and, at the same time, historicised vision of the infectious diseases.

An idea that aimed to show the personality behind the discoveries made in this field.

13 portraits of scientists and researchers, from Lazzaro Spallanzani, who refuted the natural reproduction of unicellular microorganism, to Carlo Urbani, the first to identify and classify SARS, with the message “Lessons from the Past, Challenges for the Future”, to celebrate the men that made the history of the Research on Infectious Diseases and to launch a message of hope towards the future. 810 squared metres and three artists with different techniques (from paint to spray, from illustration to calligraphy) came together to create a great collective work to
celebrate another: the research.

Gregorio Pampinella designed the portraits, Daniele Tozzi took charge of the calligraphic aspects and Andrea Marrapodi, alias Kiv TNT, was able to merge together all the work thanks to his colourful backgrounds. All of this to turn the 270 metres of the Spallanzani Hospital in Via Folchi into a real Science Hall of Fame. With this Science Hall of Fame and in the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani Foundation, Maddalena Santeroni and Matteo Colavolpe from Graffiti Zero – brought together by the Lazzaro Spallanzani Institute management – have designed the project that the same Institute imagined and wanted, giving the city an important mural where history and research become the main characters of a massive pop work. A mural that shows different generations talking about what scares them (the illness) and what reassures them (the research). A mural that wants to bring together the youngest generations and these great individuals from the past, building a bridge and a strong message of hope, to face the challenges of the future together.

SPONSORSHIPS
The European Community, the Mibact, the Lazio Region and the XII Municipio have granted us their patronage.

THE CHOICE OF ARTISTS
Graffiti Zero proposed a series of urban artist to the Inmi’s management and, amongst all the talented artists, three were chosen to bring the wall to life. Gregorio Pampinella, Daniele Tozzi and Andrea Marrapodi, alias Kiv TNT, grew in the Golden Age of Rome’s graffiti writing. During their career, they were able to strengthen and develop their skills.

Thanks to “Lessons from the Past, Challenges for the Future” they were finally able to work together and merge their talents in what has become so much more than a simple drawing on the wall: their work for Inmi is a true message at the service of the city of Rome.

THE FINAL GOAL
With this mural the Spallanzani management wants to let the Hospital emerge from the common idea of being a place of suffering and therapy, to acquire a new life linked to cultural growth, art and “rebirth”.