18 infographic tables on the subject of the new forms of poverty disrupt the quiet and flat daily life in Bolzano
The 15th of June 2013, 18 tables were exhibited in Via della Mostra, in the centro of Bozen (Italy). They displayed information and suggestions regarding the new kinds of poverty which have aroused following the economical crisis in Italy. Elisa Spigai and Sabrina Vegetti have decided to focus on the main causes of this new wave of poverty affecting the middle class.
They concentrated their research and exibition on the following four topics:
debts
expences
separation from the spouse
none or small income
The exhibition, in the heart of the city, wanted to stimulate the people and encoraged interaction with an infographic which allowed them to indicate the topic which they felt more heavy on them. The most cosen were "expences", followed by "debts".
The three-dimensional typography, the pictograms and the infographics, in their total length of 20 meters, have captured with their bright colors the attention of every single peroson who walked by. No one could avoid lokking at the tables and wondering what they were. The public, once it read the information, had very different reactions, but either negatively or positevely, all of it was somehow impressed.
Some people were happy to see such an exhibition, some were angry, some argued with the designers or with other people who stopped by, many shared their stories and their personal experiences.
The projects was realised using as much objective information as possible, with data from ISTAT, ASTAT, the Province of Bozen and the social associations Caritas and Asdi. The reactions were all but neutral, and many were surprised to hear it was a project of design students.
Overall the project, which was part of a larger exhibition called Esponiamoci!, in italian "let's expose ourselves!", can be considered a great success. Certainly new ideas were exposed and new stimuli were given to this small city embedded in the Italian Alps.
