Strange Rules

With “Strange Rules”, Palazzo Diedo establishes itself as the first space in Italy to develop a curatorial and theoretical reflection on Protocol Art, positioning the project at the forefront of debates on art and technology. The initiative is presented not only as an exhibition, but as a foundational programme introducing an international field of research into the Italian context.

“Strange Rules” introduces Protocol Art as a practice that does not solely produce images or objects, but makes visible the rules, structures and systems that determine how culture is generated, distributed and perceived in the digital age. These rules are often embedded in algorithms, artificial intelligence models, computational protocols, platforms and technological infrastructures. Rather than simply using these tools, Protocol Art exposes, analyses and transforms them into artistic material. The work is understood not only as a final outcome, but as a process governed by instructions, revealing the invisible architecture that enables aesthetic experience. This shift from object to system, and from single authorship to collaboration and human–machine co-creation, defines a key field of contemporary research.

The project includes a new publication presenting an initial structured study of Protocol Art as a research area. This volume is developed throughout the duration of “Strange Rules”, turning Palazzo Diedo into both an exhibition space and an active research laboratory. It aims to establish a reference point for the field by mapping key works, practitioners and theoretical foundations at the intersection of art and technology.

The architectural structure of Palazzo Diedo is transformed into a working environment. The ground floor hosts a new commissioned work by Mat Dryhurst and Holly Herndon in collaboration with the studio SUB, alongside a programme of temporary interventions including conferences, performances, screenings and podcast productions involving visitor participation. The first floor presents site-specific installations and a selection of video works expanding the discourse on Protocol Art in direct dialogue with the ground floor activities.

Artists: Primavera De Filippi, Ayoung Kim, Agnieszka Kurant, Trevor Paglen, Ho Tzu Nyen, and more
Curator: Mat Dryhurst, Holly Herndon e Hans Ulrich Obrist