SOS (1) by Elisabetta Vedovato | in Rome’s 13 municipality

Funded by regional funds, the “Blu Art - i colori dell’aria” (Blu Art - the colors of the air) project is one of the measures with which the city administration aims to combat air pollution while enhancing the city’s streets and squares through art, with urban redevelopment projects involving all of the city’s municipalities.

Jungle communications agency selected five artists (Marco Oggian, ScombinAnto, Serena Gianoli, GeometricBang, and Elisabetta Vedovato) to create street art on pavements using water-based paints produced from recycled raw materials. A non-toxic compound applied to the surface helps improve air quality by absorbing pollutants (including fine and ultrafine particulate matter such as PM10, PM2.5, and PM0.5). The color palette used is reminiscent of environmental maps showing air pollution levels.

The work created by Elisabetta Vedovato in Rome’s 13th municipality, next to the Battistini metro station, represents a large and colorful SOS. The question is who will respond: the Earth itself, which will begin to implement defense mechanisms against human beings, some compassionate alien, or perhaps humankind itself, which, awakening from the torpor of consumerism and selfishness, will be able to rediscover a connection with its own community and with the planet that hosts it? The work covers an area of 91 square meters: a surface area of 100 square meters treated with “smog-eating” paint is capable of absorbing a quantity of CO₂ and polluting particulates equal to that of over 30 mature trees.

Illustrator, graphic designer and art director Elisabetta Vedovato was born in the province of Venice and studied at NABA Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti. Her internationally acclaimed works convey a personal poetry made up of harmony, stylized forms, colors, small emotions and everyday objects represented in a playful way, with lightness and curiosity.