The artwork serves as a powerful critique of overtourism, a phenomenon that is transforming many historic cities, including Bologna, into spaces oversaturated with tourists. In this depiction, numerous red beings—symbols of unwanted and chaotic invasions—climb the narrow and towering walls of the city, striving to reach a distant light. Meanwhile, the walls of Bologna’s historic center become the boundary that the tourist masses attempt to overcome, like a virus spreading relentlessly. The light at the top may represent the promise of progress and modernity, yet it remains unreachable for most of the beings, symbolizing the difficulty of preserving a place’s authenticity and tranquility under the weight of overwhelming crowds. The artwork, therefore, invites us to reflect on the conflict between a city's cultural richness and the invasive, sometimes destructive, impact of excessive tourism.
MattePainting + AI + Photoshop
