Alberto Garutti. Ai nati oggi

Piazza del Popolo
Project curated by Hou Hanru and Monia Trombetta

A public art project set in Rome’s Piazza del Popolo to celebrate the universal event of birth, moving a sudden and sincere emotion.

The ambitious project created by Alberto Garutti connects the square’s lampposts with the Policlinico Agostino Gemelli IRCCS’ maternity ward. Every time the light pulses it means a baby is born: the installation is dedicated to him (or her) and all the newly born that day in the city. Garutti, a significant public art’s representative, develops his research starting from works that leave the museum’s spaces to enter the urban landscape and create total engagement and sharing from the audience.

Pushing a button on every birth’s occasion – by the Policlinico Agostino Gemelli IRCCS’ ward staff – the lampposts light intensity will increase a bit for approximately thirty seconds before returning to its regular power. At every pedestrian entrance/exit route of the Piazza an iron plate is positioned with the caption’s high-relief:

The streetlights of Piazza del Popolo are connected to the maternity ward of Policlinico Agostino Gemelli.
Every time the light blinks, it means a child is born.
The work is dedicated to that child and all the children born today in this city.