Artist Interview: Luca Armigero

I believe NFTs have entirely rewritten the rules of the game … Digital art has wiped out what was rotten and stagnant in contemporary art

“Lost in the metaverse” is the first thing that jumps out on the Instagram profile of Luca Armigero (Milan, 1981). And it is no surprise, as his work finds expression in captivating projects, such as a wall installation in augmented reality and an NFT exhibition with GIFs created from his paintings.

Trained at the Brera Academy, this artist has brought his inspirations to life on a broad spectrum of projects: from installations of a strong scenographic impact made from recycled materials, photography to animated graphics with immersive technology.

As if this were not enough, he is also passionate about teaching Design and Digital Art at the Liceo Artistico Callisto Piazza in Lodi, Italy. With a series of AR artworks created by his students, he recently curated the exhibition Broken Nature heightened through the magic of Artivive.

When asked about his predictions on AR and digital technologies in the crypto art world, Luca leaves us with a good feeling: “Coming into contact with new technology is always something magical!” he enthusiastically responds. “I think we are only at the beginning.”

Your IG bio states: ‘Lost in the metaverse.’ What does this buzzword mean to you?

The metaverse is a space without boundaries, open to all, where values are self-determined, and history can be continually rewritten.

It is the ‘eternally present.’ I love feeling lost, and this is a state of mind that allows me to observe what is around me with new eyes.

What made you decide to incorporate immersive technologies, like augmented reality, into your daily practice?

As an artist, I consider myself a collector of experience and knowledge.

The technological sphere of the visual arts has brought many innovations and, above all, a renewal of the language of the arts.

Virtual and augmented reality represents a universe of surprises that I felt compelled to explore.

Many of your projects are site-specific. How do you maintain a closeness with the spectator when using AR?

I consider augmented reality the element that marks the boundary between the past and our present. The dividing line in the way of consuming art and creating it.

It’s all about rethinking what we consider physical and the sense of the work that has weight. The meanings, dynamics, and values that it carries with it maintain the physicality beyond the object.

Some of your installations are made from recycled materials. How can AR live in harmony with environmental-friendly designs?

New technologies can succeed in what man has failed in. That means protecting and preserving the traces of life on this planet.

NFTs are a hot topic. Do you think they can be a sustainable solution for artists, galleries, and museums?

I believe NFTs have entirely rewritten the rules of the game.

There are artists, who have remained outside the office and ‘closed circuit’ of galleries, who have become the main players on the scene, and are now courted by the most important auction houses in the world.

Anyone can finally collect a work of art, pay the proper compensation directly to the artist, and make a good investment. Artists, for the first time in history, are the new millionaires. A fairytale, if they only came to tell us ten years ago.

Digital art has wiped out what was rotten and stagnant in contemporary art.

How was your experience using Artivive and giving an extremely life-like experience at the exhibition ‘Broken Nature’?

The Broken Nature project brings together 22 graphic works by my students on climate change and human-made disasters in nature.

Each graphic was printed, animated with Artivive, and exhibited. The thing I liked the most was the visitors’ sense of wonder and amazement to see the static images come to life through their mobile phones.

Coming into contact with new technology is always something magical!

How does the future look like for Luca Armigero?

I think we are only at the beginning. I am happy to be part of this historical, aesthetic, technological, and creative movement.

As an artist and professor, I am always working on new projects. I am currently collaborating with Martina Cioffi, an artist, and sculptress, on a work titled ‘Shape-Shifting,’ which will see the light in spring, combining installation and augmented reality.

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