IWAGUMI - AIR SCAPE

Interactive Art Adventure
Piazza Maggiore, Bologna, Italy

Iwagumi Air Scape is a monumental artwork imbued with deep tranquillity. Celebrating Japanese reverence towards beautiful rock compositions as found in nature, known as Iwagumi, this work brings peace and calm to urban cityscapes. Standing resplendent in the Piazza Maggiore, Bologna at the end of 2025, this work attracted over 10,000 people on the launch night alone.

Despite the sheer audience numbers, the spirit of the work prevailed with a serene calm settling across the site. Being the first contemporary artwork curated in the square, it became the talk of the town, igniting the people’s passion for art in the piazza. To this end, our artwork has paved the way for contemporary art in the square.

By day, visitors explored immense air-filled inflatables that appear to be thousands of tonnes of rock. As the sun sets, the artwork transforms with a vibrant display of colour and an interactive soundscape inspired by nature’s gentle inhabitants – frogs, birds and bats.

This open-air temporary art installation is designed to be placed in the middle of a city, sharply contrasting features of the wilderness with the urban environment. Iwagumi Air Scape delivers a public realm statement about nature and harmony that is at once monumental and peaceful.