ILARIO ALICANTE SHOW

A “Cosmic Debris” at the Ex Macello: Ilario Alicante’s Show Between Contemporary Art and Show Design

In today’s landscape of electronic performances, dominated by 3D visuals and recurring post-human or post-apocalyptic narratives, the show by Ilario Alicante at Milan’s Ex Macello stood out as a breath of fresh air. The result of a deliberate choice to transcend prevailing codes, it embraced instead the language of contemporary art and a radical stage design. The project, curated by Expect Nothing Studio together with the PANTERRA collective, materialized as a true “stage-museum”, conceived both as an autonomous artwork and as an integral part of the show. At its core stood a powerful sculptural-graphic installation: a “cosmic wreck”, monumental yet unsettling, acting as a symbolic filter between artist, audience, and music. 

The structure, towering at 11 meters, was built as a vertical form suspended between two truss circles measuring 3 and 4 meters. Completing the composition were around 50 fixtures and a LED wall mounted within the crown—elements that together evoked the image of a vast satellite antenna, seemingly ready to transmit signals into the sonic space of the live set. The visual effect gave the installation an almost site-specific character, in perfect resonance with the post-industrial architecture of the Ex Macello.

While the PANTERRA collective conceived the sculptural gesture and artistic vision, Expect Nothing Studio oversaw the implementation and engineering of the project. Founded in Milan in 2010, the studio is recognized for its creative direction, lighting, and show design, with collaborations spanning international DJs and renowned venues and projects such as Amnesia Milano Events, Ex Macello, Social Music City, Superclub, and Twiga. The result was a performance that challenged the conventional relationship between electronic music and visual design: no longer a mere decorative backdrop, but an artwork in its own right, asserting itself as the protagonist and reshaping the very idea of live entertainment.

Credits:

Art installation: @wpanterra

DOP / Show Design & Direction: @expectnothingstudio

Direction support team: @_danielecampanaro / @_dariomiele / @davide.mdg / @d1ng_visual, @ArcoreVj

Videos: @shotlikethis @stefanolauritano @sl.studios

Photo: @lagarty_photo

Head of Communication and Visual Art: @altrimage

Executive producer: @riccardo_amnesiamilano

Light, structure and video service: @decibel_events_studio