moradavaga’s spider sprawls across facade in italy, reminiscent of an old-school string phone

moradavaga reveals its newest tubular creature, netty

Moradavaga’s interactive installation, Netty, is a kind of urban tool for connection and communication, created at the new base of the cultural center Ost West Club in Merano, Italy. Like many other characters by the studio, Netty can be read on multiple levels. Visually, it takes the form of a large, spider-like creature with long black tubular limbs that sprawl across the building’s facade, inviting curious visitors to engage with it.

Those who dare can step inside its open mouth and peer through the installation’s ‘eyes,’ discovering a new way to observe the surrounding landscape. The work’s interactive elements such as its head and legs are reminiscent of an old-fashioned string telephone. Beneath this playful form and on this deeper level, it serves as a metaphor for connection and communication — ideas already embedded in its name — and reflects the importance of dialogue and exchange from multiple perspectives as central to a cultural center.

forming a playful urban tool for communication in italy

As is often the case in life with different types of situations, the metaphoric spider initially evokes fear. But upon closer inspection, it reveals its friendly nature. Netty, the black spider with its slender, writhing legs, is a relic from the old ex-Bersaglio building — or perhaps even from the former headquarters of the Ost West Club. ‘Most likely, it hid away in a cardboard box and has now finally emerged from its hiding place, joyfully rappelling down the northeast facade of the building,’ reflects the Moradavaga team.

Visitors can step inside Netty’s oversized mouth, large enough to fit a person, and discover that the spider isn’t something to fear. ‘So often, appearances are deceiving, and there is no cause for alarm,’ the team continues. Like all of Moradavaga’s creatures, this one serves the purpose of connection and communication. The installation includes playful elements reminiscent of a string telephone, encouraging people to engage and explore connections they form with one another and their environment. With its playful nature and interactive elements reminiscent of an old-fashioned string telephone, it becomes a communicative tool for people of all ages.

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project info:

name: Netty — The Spider on the Wall

designer: Moradavaga | @moradavaga
design team: Manfred Eccli and Pedro Cavaco Leitão

location: Merano, Italy