Renewable Rhythms by The Visual Agency

‘Renewable Rhythms’ is a dynamic data-painting installation created by the generative artist collective The “What If” Project, led by Daniele Giannini, an IT professional at Terna, the Italian electricity transmission system operator. Drawing on Terna’s daily renewable energy data, the project transforms raw figures into a swirling, ever-evolving data painting that is both visually engaging and aurally immersive. At its core is an innovative blend of data visualization and data sonification, enabling the audience to experience the data as synchronized waves of color and sound.
The accompanying Longform article, designed for both desktop and mobile, published on Terna multimedia magazine ‘Lightbox’, provides a deep dive into the artwork and the broader context of climate change. It opens with an overview that underscores how AI and data visualization techniques were harnessed to generate the painting’s code. The narrative then splits into two sections: the first is more technical, explaining the data sources, visualization logic, and the mathematics behind each animated particle, all illustrated through interactive graphics and animations developed by TVA. A special focus is dedicated to data sonification, detailing how the audio component adds a new dimension to the dataset, enabling deeper audience engagement.
The second section of the Longform takes a step back to discuss the ethical and philosophical layers of the project, reflecting on how data can be used in creative, critical, and even provocative ways. Here, parallels are drawn with other art projects that harness datasets for thoughtful exploration.
‘Renewable Rhythms’ was recently showcased at the ‘Driving Energy Award – Contemporary Photography’ exhibition at Palazzo Esposizioni in Rome and at the Maker Faire Rome 2024, further highlighting its capacity to spark conversation around renewable energies and our collective responsibility toward the environment.