Art & Science: Paolo Monti and MUSIS
Luigi Campanella, University of Rome “La Sapienza”

The choice of assuming the observative position, in order to best interpret Science, has throughout all these years been the peculiar aspect of MUSIS, when compared to other museum projects, particularly of scientific nature. MUSIS has considered the integration of Art and Science as its guide line, adopting the word interpretation, based on freedom of connection and research, which has generally been forgotten and substituted with other expressions of minor creative value, such as communication, diffusion, translation, education.

In search of significant and incisive examples capable of transferring this approach to the everyday citizen, we came across the art of Paolo Monti. His endeavour to fill the inspirational chalice of art with Science, is really worthy of the highest praise. So we discover an ideator who is also a perfect experimenter, and a researcher who is also a magnificent artist.

In Science as in Art, the transformation of the existent can occur through different paths, in one case elaborating concepts and theories, in the other by representing and interpreting reality as seen by our mind and heart, rather than only through our eyes. Knowledge of this reality is possible, according to an integrated vision of culture that makes use of scientific phenomena and processes, thereby stimulating not only the curiosity of our brain, but also our critical sense and our feeling.

"Arte e Scienza: Paolo Monti e MUSIS" was first published in Paolo Monti (MUSIS, 1998) : ISBN 88-87054-01-0 and presented in the collection of selected texts produced for the personal exhibition of Paolo Monti, Vierdimensional², Konstanz (Germany), 2001.

Luigi Campanella, is Full Professor of Analytical Chemistry since 1980, he was President of the Master Course Council of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry from 1981 to 1983, Head of the Chemistry Department from 1983 to 1986, Coordinator of the PhD Course in Chemical Science from 1988 to 1994 and Dean of the Mathematical, Physical and Natural Science Faculty from 1988 to 1991, in any case at the “La Sapienza” University of Rome. Author of free textbooks of Applied Instrumental Chemistry and of about 300 publications and about 350 oral or poster communications at national and international congresses. He is member of several commissions in CNR, Scientific and Technological Science Ministry, University and ENEA. He coordinates the Working Group on Metal of the Italian Water Institute and the Biotechnology Program of international FAO Mushroom Network. Due to his interest in the problems of the diffusion of Science and Culture, was named President of MUSIS (Museum of Science and Scientific Information) from 1991. Winner of International Capire and European E.I.P. (Education as an Instrument of Peace) Prizes.