We had the good fortune of connecting with Rudy Paganini and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rudy, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?

It’s been part of me since ever. Art is fundamental in my life, it’s a space for boundless freedom and exploration; to keep an area detached from pure rationality is something my mental health demands.
I began as a musician (I still am), playing in cellars and riding that raw energy, before gradually moving to computer music. Then, just as I turned 30, I had a huge crisis, I started feeling the limitations of art-how it’s so tangled up in subjectivity and the artist’s personality, this drove me to learn coding, chasing a creative outlet that felt more structured, more objective, yet limitless in its possible outputs. I threw myself into it, but in the end, my attention threshold is low, and I need to be constantly entertained.
I am an artist-that’s what I am-not a coder, so it was natural at that point to start creating art with my PC and my glorious iPod touch (short videos, animations), also remembering how avid an Amiga user I used to be as a kid; soon after, I created forevermidi.com, my website, which is not only my art aggregator but an evolving artwork itself.
This is more than a career; it’s my lifeline. I live for diving into a project’s chaos, seeing where it leads, and training myself to discover beauty where it’s not supposed to be. Pretty romantic, isn’t it? But it’s really this short circuit between new and passé that keeps me rolling.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

My practice deeply engages with the dynamic fusion of art and technology, drawing from a constellation of concepts that fuel my intellectual curiosity and creative inquiry.
Originally from Mantova, a Renaissance gem in northern Italy, I grew up surrounded by a lavish artistic tradition. My work explores emergent creativity, manifesting through experimentation; what distinguishes my practice, I believe, is my conceptualization of pure creativity as a phenomenon that can arise from unexpected processes-often seen as disruptive, for example my Glitch Art endeavors are meant to be generative inferences rather than iconoclastic stances.
I avoid singular methodological confines, preferring instead to synthesize disparate tools and mediums, new and obsolete, into an artwork (my own definition of “postmediality”) to achieve results that are both aesthetically and conceptually postmodern in their intentions.
A recent project I’m particularly proud of is “Digital Memento Mori”-a three-dimensional sculptural form subjected to glitch-induced distortions, which I’ve subsequently recontextualized across video, virtual, and augmented domains, on and off-line (a good example of what I mean by “transmediality”).
It’s my way of observing how we idealize ourselves in this digital world, offering a reminder that we are not eternal, and that even what is “virtual” carries a very real carbon footprint.
Watching this ancient concept being updated and morph from video to augmented exhibits has kept me hooked.
Last year, in its diverse inceptions, it was exhibited in Berlin, New York, and Santiago de Querétaro; though I believe the most exciting project should always be the next one. In my case, I’d like to further explore taking my artworks into the physical domain, through sculptural installations.
My professional trajectory has been defined by persistent experimentation, my initial forays into Computer Art began in Italy, where the country’s storied artistic legacy provided valuable inspiration and formation, yet, in my opinion, it also poses subtle, almost subconscious challenges for contemporary innovation. Seeking an environment more aligned with my practice, I transitioned to Miami, drawn by its emerging role as a prospective hub for the so-called “new economy” (specifically in its crypto and Web 3.0 interpretations)-a place where New Media Art definitely enjoys greater acceptance and access to resources.
Here, the promise of investment and infrastructure, galleries and their audiences alongside tech incubators holds immense potential.
This journey has not been without its exigencies: securing funding remains a constant challenge, acquiring proficiency in emergent tools demands relentless self-education, and persuading skeptics of the legitimacy of my projects requires constant hustling. (It must be said-I’m quite an introvert, and I’d much rather work on my art than pitch it to someone).
There have been moments when the viability of this path seemed tenuous, but I persevered by adhering to my intuitive convictions; I honestly like what I put out there, deriving insight from each door closed (and each door opened).
The lessons accrued are manifold and enduring. I’ve learned that the impact of my work with a discerning, passionate audience sustains the purpose of communicating my artistic endeavors-why not, waiting for a more comprehensive future.
My aspiration is to shape my work as an investigation into the area where technological systems and human experience converge, I seek to research the unique within the restless developing of our technological epoch, failures included.
Ultimately, I view my work as a platform for observing the interplay between the artificial and the human, embracing the beauty of the unresolved and the imperfect.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

If il Teo were visiting me in Miami, I’d plan a week blending the city’s stunning natural beauty, vivid art scene, and incredible vegetarian-friendly cuisine (I’m trying to win him over to my side).
We’d kick off with brunch at Planta South Beach, savoring plant-based delights before exploring the Art Deco District and enjoying a sunset at South Pointe Park. The week would celebrate Miami’s artistic pulse visiting the Pérez Art Museum, immersing ourselves in the Superblue Miami Museum, and wandering through Wynwood’s graffiti-covered alleys. Wynwood is an urban art treasure trove, brimming with murals that reflect the city’s diverse culture and creativity.
Nature would also be a major highlight, starting with a day at Crandon Park’s pristine beach.
We might even venture to the Everglades after a couple drinks (lol) for a kayaking adventure through mangroves, spotting wildlife (honestly, we could encounter some of it in downtown too! The beauty of being in Miami).
Possibly worn out, we’d recharge with vegetarian meals at Love Life Café (I don’t believe vegans and vegetarians should pursue plant-based meat replicas, but I can’t deny my love for their veggie burgers…). Another fantastic option is Full Bloom Vegan, offering gourmet waterfront dining. I’d also make sure to show my friend the Miami Bull outside the College, our response to Wall Street and a symbol of Miami’s growing crypto economy. Finally, we’d explore the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables for a tranquil escape.
As for the nightlife, we’ll visit Club Space, a hotspot for real House Music.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

First and foremost, shoutouts to my family for providing an environment that allowed me to choose my life’s paths with total freedom.
Fundamental are also all the artists that bring constant inspiration, from Nam June Paik to Yoshihide Sodeoka, whose works, in the early days showed me that video art can be as ecstatic as great music can be.
Also, the small online community I stumbled into years ago, folks who shared tutorials, critiques, and random ideas about New Media Art, it’s a weird little network that’s kept me… Connected.
If I had to pick a book? I’d pick many, from Cyberpunk classics to Martian Chronicles, with its sublime descriptions.

Website: https://forevermidi.com

Twitter: https://x.com/rudypaganini

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/forevermidi

Image Credits
Rudy Paganini

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.