Technological metamorphosis

Palazzo Strozzi in Florence presents Shy Society, a site-specific installation by Dutch art duo DRIFT, part of the Palazzo Strozzi Future Art program in collaboration with Fondazione Hillary Merkus Recordati. The exhibition runs from October 24th, 2024, to January 26th, 2025. This immersive project transforms the Renaissance courtyard into a stage where seven large, floating elements perform a choreographed dance, accompanied by an evocative soundtrack composed by RZA. The installation reflects DRIFT’s fascination with the intersection of nature and technology, with elements that mimic the natural movement of flowers, opening and closing in response to custom software.

Drawing inspiration from the botanical phenomenon “nyctinasty,” where plants react to light and darkness, Shy Society explores themes of adaptation, metamorphosis, and our relationship with the environment. The dynamic artwork invites viewers to experience the historical space of Palazzo Strozzi in a new light, encouraging contemplation and interaction. This multisensory experience merges art, science, and nature, offering a meditation on beauty, transformation, and the delicate balance between control and wonder.

The exhibition, supported by the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi and private contributors, is an invitation to rethink our connection to both natural and man-made environments. Through this unique project, DRIFT invites us to reflect on how we navigate and adapt to the changing world around us.