Massimiliano Ionta, 03.28.1969 lives in Rome known artistically as The Astronut, is a visionary digital artist, sound producer, and musician with over two decades of innovative contributions to the realms of sound and art. His journey began in the vibrant Italian and international art scene of the '90s, marking a significant milestone by bringing the Italian leg of Nirvana's "Nevermind" tour to Rome. As a foundational member of the "Emergenza Festival" and the pioneer behind “Start-Studios" Italy's first digital recording studio and music production factory still in business from 2001 Ionta has collaborated with some of the most influential Italian musicians, further solidifying his status in the music industry.

Diving into the depths of sonic and visual art, Ionta has composed soundtracks and led the sound design for permanent archaeological museum installations by Piero Angela and Paco Lanciano, including "The Roman Domus," "The Forum of Augustus," and "The Forum of Caesar," alongside the 3D mapping projection show "Welcome to Rome." In 2017, embracing the concept of the digital consciousness, he transformed into his avatar, The Astronut, delving into the contemporary conceptual art scene of Europe and pioneering new digital media frontiers.

The Astronut's work focuses on creating immersive installations that blend spatial audio with 3D video design, exploring the metaverse, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) to transcend the boundaries between art and technology. His installations, such as the one featured at the Triennale di Milano, utilize augmented reality and spatial audio to offer inclusive, immersive artistic experiences that engage audiences beyond visual limitations, emphasizing art's role in environmental awareness and sustainable resource use.

Highlighted Exhibitions:

• - The Baby/The Baby Ka-Boom, 2024 AR and sonic metaverse installation and Digital Photo to raise founds for the civil victims of war during “Artists for Gaza 2024” 
• - The Sound Garden: Out of Sight, 2023 - An exploration of sonic metaverses and augmented reality, showcased during the Milano Digital Week at the Triennale Milano.
• - 52 Eyes, 2023 - A finalist at the "Trento Art Festival," this NFT collection of interactive digital objects combines sound art with digital photography.
• - The Sound Garden - Nothing Personal, 2022 - Awarded at "Mitologie Digitali," this augmented reality sonic metaverse installation was exhibited at the Museo del Tessuto in Prato and the Contemporary Art Museum in Taizhou, China.
• - On The Other Side, 2022 - A digital photography piece that reached the finals of the Amedeo Modigliani Foundation Prize, showcased at Villa Tuscolana.
• Singularity, 2022 - A digital video art piece that won at the Miami New Media Festival, displayed at the Centro Studi Americani in Rome and Palazzo Michiel in Venice.
• Kimono Tales, 2018 Ligth sign - Digital Video - immersive Sound Art installations views Carrousel du Louvre, Paris, Fotofever Fair

Publications: “Alla Scoperta della Street Art Romana e non solo”

The Astronut, continues to push the boundaries of digital art and sound, creating spaces where technology enriches our artistic and societal landscapes, inviting us all to participate in the digital art revolution.