Depuratore 2

“The “Depuratori” project stems from the desire to layer our research around contemporary challenges related to water management. On the one hand, it investigates scientific advancements in water purification, integrating cutting-edge technologies such as filtration systems. On the other, it explores speculative solutions based on the use of living organisms—such as fungi and bacteria—drawing inspiration from dialogues with experts in mycology and bioengineering. These two approaches ideally converge in a hybrid entity, a machine/organism that combines mechanical and organic elements, serving as an experimental model to address the growing global water stress.”

Depuratore II is a fictional water purification apparatus, conceived as an evolution of the previous model. The project is rooted in in-depth research on water pollution caused by persistent and hard-to-remove substances such as PFAS, heavy metals, herbicides, and microplastics. While the most advanced purification systems can ensure the near-complete removal of pollutants, a minimal fraction of these substances still escapes treatment processes, continuing to circulate in the environment. The installation focuses precisely on these residual contaminants, highlighting the limitations of current technologies while envisioning new intervention perspectives.

The piece presents itself as a hybrid device, integrating mechanical and organic components to evoke the potential of interspecies collaboration. Beyond proposing solutions to complex issues such as water pollution, the project invites reflection on alternative ways of coexisting harmoniously with other forms of life. The mechanism, automated through Arduino technology in collaboration with Marco Selmin, simulates a real water purification process by cyclically exchanging liquid between two containers.