In Rome, sculptures and live painting to build a bridge between art and science

A bridge between art and science to celebrate Bristol Myers Squibb’s 80th anniversary in Italia. From 21 to 23 October, the company is hosting an exhibition-event at the prestigious Palazzo Merulana in Rome, bringing together the works of Andrea Olivar, a visual artist and sculptor, and Lucamaleonte, a street artist. An immersive and unique cultural experience, which uses contemporary art to interpret Bristol Myers Squibb’s commitment to research and innovation in addressing unmet healthcare needs.

The exhibition combines a live painting session by Lucamaleonte, scheduled for 21 October, with two sculptural installations by Andrea Olivari. The works explore the themes of health and innovation and give shape to the dialogue between science, care and the centrality of the individual.

“To celebrate this important milestone,” explains Regina Vasiliou, Vice President and General Manager of Bristol Myers Squibb Italia, “we have chosen to use art to convey the value of scientific research. Art and science share the ability to observe complexity, to start from an intuition and transform it into something new, capable of having a tangible impact on people’s lives. This exhibition tells a story that began in 1946 and has been shaped by research, innovation and a constant commitment to the areas where healthcare needs are most urgent. A story that has contributed to the evolution of medicine, from infectious diseases to the cardiovascular field, right up to the latest frontiers in oncohaematology, immunology and neuroscience. Eighty years of research that have enabled us to build a solid and lasting relationship with the country and to contribute to the advancement of research and treatment in Italia.”

Through Andrea Olivari’s two sculptural installations, the viewer is invited to explore the profound dialogue between the brain – a symbol of vision, rigour and innovation – and the heart – a metaphor for empathy and care. Lucamaleonte visually unites the two works; through a live painting performance, he creates the conceptual bridge that connects and completes the exhibition.

“I am proud to have contributed to the realisation of this project, which aims to convey the value of science to everyone – especially young people – through art,” says Andrea Olivari. My works, ‘Your Brain When You Believe In Your Vision’ and ‘Your Heart When You Care For Others’, were created precisely to give physical form to two elements that we often regard as opposites, but which in life, as in scientific research, are inseparable. I hope that, as visitors take in these works, they will realise that science and medical research are, too, an extraordinary form of art, and that every great change begins with the intuition and vision of the mind but is only realised when these become a means of caring for and looking after others.”