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Visible listening
The Palazzo Strozzi is visitor-centred, and one of the things that makes the Palazzo Strozzi experience special is its attention to ‘visible listening’ – the recognition that culture is made of many voices – and the importance of making different voices visible.This approach can be seen everywhere – from the special labels for families and children to the video information screens in the courtyard to the workshops in the exhibitions. In the exhibition Cezanne in Florence, ‘visible listening’ meant including texts throughout the exhibition written by two young girls, 11 year-old Anna H. and 13 year-old Emily W. Their comments provided a fresh new perspective on Cezanne’s masterpieces, completely different than that of the curators. In ControModa, visible listening took the form of running comments on the exhibition curators’ wall texts, written by six of the world’s leading fashion critics, including Suzy Menkes, Holly Brubach and Franca Sozzani. In both cases the Palazzo Strozzi signalled its willingness to admit other points of view into the exhibition.
The Tang Dynasty was China’s Renaissance, and the objects in this exhibition ‘belong’ to the Chinese in the same way as Michelangelo’s David ‘belongs’ to an Italian. For the Chinese, Buddhas and Boddhisattvas aren’t exotic – they’re normal.
In the exhibition China: at the Court of the Emperors ‘visible listening’ takes the form of special ‘Through Chinese Eyes’ labels, in which the Chinese comment on ‘their’ objects – giving an often completely new point of view. In addition to special labels, all the exhibition’s title and main texts are also presented in Chinese, brushed by a master – the President of the Chinese Association of Calligraphers Gu Xiangyang
The voices of children are also heard in the Palazzo Strozzi, and every exhibition at the Palazzo Strozzi is designed to provide a wide variety of activities for the whole family. The exhibition includes special labels for families designed to stimulate children’s curiosity, and the exhibition is accompanied by a small book entitled "Discoveries: dragons, monsters and other strange creatures" (by James M. Bradburne) based on the labels (available in Italian and English) that aims to enrich the whole family’s exploration of Chinese art and culture.
Palazzo Strozzi’s caffè is also taking part in the exhibition, and for a week in April will be hosting a Chinese chef from Xi’an to create a wide variety of the local specialty ‘Jiaozi’ – an elaborate Chinese ravioli.
In addition to the emphasis placed on the Chinese perspective and the Chinese language in the exhibition itself, the exhibition is accompanied by a series of publications (in Italian, English and Chinese) that celebrate the Chinese culture and Chinese tradition in Tuscany. One book, entitled “Encounters: the Chinese in Florence since the 1930s" (interviews edited by Maurizio Bossi and Enrico Sartoni) documents the experience of the first Chinese to come to Tuscany in the 20th century. Based on a series of interviews conducted by the Gabinetto Vieusseux, the book looks at the ways in which the Chinese encountered the Italian culture, and made it their own.
Another book looks at the "Correspondences": silk, porcelain and food in China and Tuscany (edited by Aurora Fiorentini e Rodolfo Bargelli) between Chinese material culture and our own by looking at products that are common to both cultures – silk and textiles, porcelain and terracotta and street food. Full of indications and information about museums and notable sights in and around Florence, the book serves as a guide to the rich history of links between China and Tuscany. A third publication looks at the way we look at the Chinese – and they look at us. Entitled "Reflections: They all look the same" (by James M. Bradburne in collaboration with Liu Shuilan, Arda van Dam, Jonathan Grundy and Lorenzo Foffani of Saatchi & Saatchi) the book compares the observations of the Chinese about their own masterpieces in the exhibition, and a selection of our masterpieces in Florentine museums, with the comments by a Western observer about the same objects. The comparison is often striking, and clearly shows that the ‘exotic’ nature of an object is not inherent, but a point of view.
Finally, there will be a small ‘passport’ produced in Italian, Chinese and English which will alert visitors to Florence of the events, activities and collections that are related to the exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi. Visitors to Florence are invited to visit the various other museums and attractions and have their passport stamped – with 10 stamps they get a reduced admission to the exhibition! As the passport is also in Chinese, the Italian Embassy in Beijing has agreed to issue it to every Chinese citizen who receives a visa to Italy in 2008.
The exhibition and its message of tolerance and cultural exchange even finds its way beyond the high walls of the Palazzo Strozzi.
During the month of March, every carton of Mukki milk will carry a short introduction to the Chinese language – and purchasers will be able to attend the exhibition at a reduced price.
All the Palazzo Strozzi’s exhibitions aim to live up to its promise ‘ad occhi aperti’, and to open the eyes of visitors to the rich connections that link our culture to others.
The Tang Dynasty was China’s Renaissance, and the objects in this exhibition ‘belong’ to the Chinese in the same way as Michelangelo’s David ‘belongs’ to an Italian. For the Chinese, Buddhas and Boddhisattvas aren’t exotic – they’re normal.
In the exhibition China: at the Court of the Emperors ‘visible listening’ takes the form of special ‘Through Chinese Eyes’ labels, in which the Chinese comment on ‘their’ objects – giving an often completely new point of view. In addition to special labels, all the exhibition’s title and main texts are also presented in Chinese, brushed by a master – the President of the Chinese Association of Calligraphers Gu Xiangyang
The voices of children are also heard in the Palazzo Strozzi, and every exhibition at the Palazzo Strozzi is designed to provide a wide variety of activities for the whole family. The exhibition includes special labels for families designed to stimulate children’s curiosity, and the exhibition is accompanied by a small book entitled "Discoveries: dragons, monsters and other strange creatures" (by James M. Bradburne) based on the labels (available in Italian and English) that aims to enrich the whole family’s exploration of Chinese art and culture.
Palazzo Strozzi’s caffè is also taking part in the exhibition, and for a week in April will be hosting a Chinese chef from Xi’an to create a wide variety of the local specialty ‘Jiaozi’ – an elaborate Chinese ravioli.
In addition to the emphasis placed on the Chinese perspective and the Chinese language in the exhibition itself, the exhibition is accompanied by a series of publications (in Italian, English and Chinese) that celebrate the Chinese culture and Chinese tradition in Tuscany. One book, entitled “Encounters: the Chinese in Florence since the 1930s" (interviews edited by Maurizio Bossi and Enrico Sartoni) documents the experience of the first Chinese to come to Tuscany in the 20th century. Based on a series of interviews conducted by the Gabinetto Vieusseux, the book looks at the ways in which the Chinese encountered the Italian culture, and made it their own.
Another book looks at the "Correspondences": silk, porcelain and food in China and Tuscany (edited by Aurora Fiorentini e Rodolfo Bargelli) between Chinese material culture and our own by looking at products that are common to both cultures – silk and textiles, porcelain and terracotta and street food. Full of indications and information about museums and notable sights in and around Florence, the book serves as a guide to the rich history of links between China and Tuscany. A third publication looks at the way we look at the Chinese – and they look at us. Entitled "Reflections: They all look the same" (by James M. Bradburne in collaboration with Liu Shuilan, Arda van Dam, Jonathan Grundy and Lorenzo Foffani of Saatchi & Saatchi) the book compares the observations of the Chinese about their own masterpieces in the exhibition, and a selection of our masterpieces in Florentine museums, with the comments by a Western observer about the same objects. The comparison is often striking, and clearly shows that the ‘exotic’ nature of an object is not inherent, but a point of view.
Finally, there will be a small ‘passport’ produced in Italian, Chinese and English which will alert visitors to Florence of the events, activities and collections that are related to the exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi. Visitors to Florence are invited to visit the various other museums and attractions and have their passport stamped – with 10 stamps they get a reduced admission to the exhibition! As the passport is also in Chinese, the Italian Embassy in Beijing has agreed to issue it to every Chinese citizen who receives a visa to Italy in 2008.
The exhibition and its message of tolerance and cultural exchange even finds its way beyond the high walls of the Palazzo Strozzi.
During the month of March, every carton of Mukki milk will carry a short introduction to the Chinese language – and purchasers will be able to attend the exhibition at a reduced price.
All the Palazzo Strozzi’s exhibitions aim to live up to its promise ‘ad occhi aperti’, and to open the eyes of visitors to the rich connections that link our culture to others.
