Black Cats & Chequered Flags is set to premiere as a world tour XR exhibition at the Museo Ferrari in Maranello, after its successful debut at the Museo dell’Automobile di Torino (MAUTO) and its selection for the 82nd Venice Biennale.
This innovative multiplayer Mixed Reality (MR) and virtual Reality (VR) experience, developed by MIAT - Multiverse Institute for Arts & Technology, transports visitors into the world of Italy’s renowned Formula One driver Alberto Ascari—Italy’s only two-time World Champion driving a Ferrari—exploring his life, legacy, and myth.
The exhibition combines VR room-scale interactivity, 360° cinematography, immersive soundscapes, actors using motion capture, and large-scale mixed reality.
This allows visitors to step directly into Ascari’s world. They can race on Monza’s famous track in the last car driven by Alberto Ascari, perform realistic 1950s-style pit stops with his team, handle personal items, and wear Ascari’s talismans.
Additionally, visitors can explore archival photos and original memorabilia. It offers a glimpse into his personal and symbolic universe, including his beliefs in superstition, black cats, and the rituals that influenced his life.
Immersive storytelling supported by cutting-edge tech
Key highlights include a format featuring VR 6DoF and multiplayer mixed reality, with PICO XR as the technology partner. The experience lasts approximately 20 minutes and spans genres such as edutainment, documentary, and historical narrative.
The tour plans to include prestigious international museums in the future.
“Black Cats & Chequered Flags is a tribute to the thrill of speed and the fragility of destiny,” says Elisabetta Rotolo, director and creative executive producer of the experience.
“Through immersive storytelling, participants live Ascari’s triumphs, rituals, and the haunting legend surrounding his life and tragic death. The experience is a convergence of history, art, and cutting-edge technology, allowing users to inhabit moments that were once only witnessed from the sidelines.”
The exhibition caters to visitors of all ages, including Formula One fans, tech enthusiasts, students, families, and the general public. It presents a layered story that combines myth, history, and excitement.
Through multiplayer interactions, visitors don’t just watch Ascari’s story—they participate in it, exploring the skills, bravery, and superstitions characteristic of 1950s racing.
Black Cats & Chequered Flags features a striking visual design inspired by 1950s lithography, authentic period soundscapes, and engaging interactive gameplay. It turns the exhibition space into a vibrant tribute to one of motorsport’s most legendary figures.
Sound plays an essential role in grounding viewers in the world of early Formula One. The experience incorporates authentic engine analysis to recreate the unmistakable roar of Ascari’s Ferrari, the hum and tension of 1950s pit stops, cheering spectators, trackside atmospheres, and spatial sound that envelops the user.
Archive radio recordings and historic newsreels, remastered and spatialized for immersive playback, work together to transport users into Ascari’s racing reality.
Music composition is fundamental to shaping the tone and emotional rhythm. Inspired by the iconic soundtracks of 1950s Spaghetti Westerns, the score evokes drama and tension, heroic undertones, and mythical, larger-than-life characterisations.
MIAT is an international institute focused on the crossroads of creativity, technology, and human experience. It engages in research, training, and production to create innovative immersive storytelling formats, AI-driven creative projects, and experiential designs, collaborating with top museums, brands, and cultural organisations globally.
PICO is a developer of advanced virtual and mixed reality headsets, providing professional-grade hardware and software built to deliver engaging immersive experiences.
