Workshop: Communicate the Book and the Paper. Conceiving, Organizing and Communicating an Exhibition.
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
Exhibitions are generally territory reserved for art historians and curators in the sector. The book and illustrated paper are, on the other hand, considered "minor" material and often lack professionals capable of showcasing them as they deserve. It is a mistake, because they tell stories of great cultural importance and have their own specific artistic value. The objective of the laboratory - closely linked to the theme of publishing - is to bring students closer to the path that starts from the conception of an exhibition on the subject, develops around its articulated organization and reaches the decisive aspect of communication, making them participate and aware of the whole process.
Expected learning outcomes
In the light of some significant "live" experiences - which the city of Milan in particular can offer - students will have the opportunity to get to know the machine and the "laws" that govern the exhibitions of illustrated books and papers.
Lesson period: First semester
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
· Italy in the twentieth century is the political-cultural laboratory of the West: an introductory lesson on the most significant Italian characters, movements and sectors. Books and illustrated cards are still the best record of that story.
· The four "legs" of Made in Italy: design, fashion, editorial graphics, food.
· Analysis of the elements that contribute to the creation of an exhibition: content, organization, communication. Two examples: Giulio Einaudi and the portfolio of 1950 lithographs in the exhibition in Venice; the "Einaudi Letteratura" series.
· Pier Carlo Masini's "secret" Manzoni reissued in 2023 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of his death. A cultural and editorial case?
· A meeting with an expert in communication of exhibition and cultural initiatives.
· The illustrated re-edition as the second life of a literary text. Visit to the exhibition of the original drawings by Marta Nijhuis exhibited at the Natural History Museum of Milan, on the occasion of the re-edition of her volume dedicated to the elephant Bombe, loved by generations of visitors to the Milan zoo.
· Alberto Casiraghy's Pulcinoeditore editions: masterpieces of a "total artist" of the book on display.
· Cinema and publishing. Screening of the documentary "In the wind of Poetry. Alberto Casiraghi", with the presence of the two filmmakers Katia Sala and Elena Romano and the artist.
· Corporate and banking publishing: two little-known flagships of the Italian book of the 1900s. An exemplary case: the Cariplo bank gifts (1955-2000). Visit to the exhibition on the subject at the Library in via Senato in Milan.
· General conclusions.
· The four "legs" of Made in Italy: design, fashion, editorial graphics, food.
· Analysis of the elements that contribute to the creation of an exhibition: content, organization, communication. Two examples: Giulio Einaudi and the portfolio of 1950 lithographs in the exhibition in Venice; the "Einaudi Letteratura" series.
· Pier Carlo Masini's "secret" Manzoni reissued in 2023 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of his death. A cultural and editorial case?
· A meeting with an expert in communication of exhibition and cultural initiatives.
· The illustrated re-edition as the second life of a literary text. Visit to the exhibition of the original drawings by Marta Nijhuis exhibited at the Natural History Museum of Milan, on the occasion of the re-edition of her volume dedicated to the elephant Bombe, loved by generations of visitors to the Milan zoo.
· Alberto Casiraghy's Pulcinoeditore editions: masterpieces of a "total artist" of the book on display.
· Cinema and publishing. Screening of the documentary "In the wind of Poetry. Alberto Casiraghi", with the presence of the two filmmakers Katia Sala and Elena Romano and the artist.
· Corporate and banking publishing: two little-known flagships of the Italian book of the 1900s. An exemplary case: the Cariplo bank gifts (1955-2000). Visit to the exhibition on the subject at the Library in via Senato in Milan.
· General conclusions.
Prerequisites for admission
Students enrolled in the master's degree course in Publishing, Communication Cultures and Fashion and in the degree course in Humanistic Sciences for Communication, interested in learning about the entire process of designing, organizing and communicating exhibitions dedicated to books and visual arts on paper.
Teaching methods
Each lesson consists of a theoretical premise followed by the analysis of specific "case studies" and by the comparison in the classroom with the teacher.
Selected meetings with industry experts in the field of publishing, exhibition planning and communication are also planned.
Attendance is mandatory (it is possible not to attend two out of ten lessons).
Attendance is compulsory (it is possible not to attend two lessons out of ten).
Selected meetings with industry experts in the field of publishing, exhibition planning and communication are also planned.
Attendance is mandatory (it is possible not to attend two out of ten lessons).
Attendance is compulsory (it is possible not to attend two lessons out of ten).
Teaching Resources
Examples of exhibitions held or in progress in Milan, in Italy and abroad will be offered to students: original materials, catalogues, examples of press releases, reviews, books, and articles. The texts indicated below represent some bibliographic references. Students are not required to study the volumes cited, but consultation is recommended. Some copies of the texts (almost all in out-of-print editions) will be made available by the teacher.
- ANDREA TOMASETIG (ed.), (with Leo Guerra and Cristina Quadrio Curzio), I libri Einaudi 1933-1983. Claudio Pavese collection. Exhibition catalogue. Fondazione Gruppo Credito Valtellinese e Libraccio Editore, Verona, 2016. Edition partly out of print.
- ANDREA TOMASETIG (edited by) (with Leo Guerra and Cristina Quadrio Curzio), I 'Pulcini' by Alberto Casiraghy. Typography and Poetry, Catalog of the exhibition (Milan, Galleria Gruppo Credito Valtellinese, 2018), Verona, 2018, partly out-of-print edition.
Four excerpts on the subject by Andrea Tomasetig:
- The Italian economy illustrated (1996);
- Trump cards. Andrea Tomasetig tells how he revolutionized the world of Italian collecting. Interview by Mario Anton Orefice (2021);
- Cards that talk about food. Illustrated history of spaghetti with tomato sauce (2022);
- Cariplo 1823-2023. The primacy of Cariplo trinkets (2023).
- ANDREA TOMASETIG (ed.), (with Leo Guerra and Cristina Quadrio Curzio), I libri Einaudi 1933-1983. Claudio Pavese collection. Exhibition catalogue. Fondazione Gruppo Credito Valtellinese e Libraccio Editore, Verona, 2016. Edition partly out of print.
- ANDREA TOMASETIG (edited by) (with Leo Guerra and Cristina Quadrio Curzio), I 'Pulcini' by Alberto Casiraghy. Typography and Poetry, Catalog of the exhibition (Milan, Galleria Gruppo Credito Valtellinese, 2018), Verona, 2018, partly out-of-print edition.
Four excerpts on the subject by Andrea Tomasetig:
- The Italian economy illustrated (1996);
- Trump cards. Andrea Tomasetig tells how he revolutionized the world of Italian collecting. Interview by Mario Anton Orefice (2021);
- Cards that talk about food. Illustrated history of spaghetti with tomato sauce (2022);
- Cariplo 1823-2023. The primacy of Cariplo trinkets (2023).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The verification exam consists in the conception, development and presentation of a parallel project for the promotion of one of the exhibitions covered by the workshop.
The assignment of a grade is not foreseen, since it is a laboratory.
The assignment of a grade is not foreseen, since it is a laboratory.
Professor(s)