Stabile instabile (Stable Unstable) is an exhibit designed by Giovanni Anceschi as part of his work of diploma in Visual Communication at Hochschule für Gestaltung Ulm.

The thesis is composed of a theoretical part, titled “Schematic Representations for Educational Exhibitions” (supervisor: Abraham Moles, co-supervisors: Tomás Maldonado, Herbert W. Kapitzki), and a practical part, titles “Dynamic Communication in the Framework of an Exhibition on Cybernetics” (supervisor: Herbert W. Kapitzki, co-supervisors: Bruno Munari, Tomás Gonda).

The practical part includes the design of an exhibit that aims at visualising the concepts of stable and unstable system in cybernetics. The visualisation of a stable system is a geometrical body, a cylinder as tall as a person standing on a hemispheric base which makes it tilt. The exhibit displays the concept of stability as the geometric body oscillates upon being touched by the viewer, yet it always reverts to its initial position.

Such principle inspired Anceschi’s intervention in the framework of the initiative Parata Luci (Light Parade), organised by the City of Milan and its Chamber of Commerce in December 1962. One hundred of these geometrical tilting lit bodies should have been displayed in Piazza Duomo.

Title
Stabile instabile

Artist
Giovanni Anceschi

Title
Stabile instabile

Date
1967

Collection/owner
Collection of the artist (technical drawings)