PAST and FUTURE WITH A GREAT RENAISSANCE THINKER
The secrets of the distant past and the not-so-remote future merge in a multi-scope exhibition at the Rome Zoological Museum, inspired by the figure of one of the most eclectic Italian geniuses of the 16th century. “Oltre lo Spazio Oltre il Tempo Il Sogno di Ulisse Aldrovandi” (Beyond Space Beyond Time The Dream of Ulisse Aldrovandi) gives a sweeping picture of the many scientific disciplines explored by a little known renaissance genius. The Rome tribute to the figure of the great Bolognese scientist, naturalist, philosopher, botanist, physicist and philosopher Ulisse Aldrovandi (who was born on the 28th May 1522) follows on the heels of the widely acclaimed exhibition organized by the Golinelli Centre of Art and Science in the Alma Mater Studiorum Science Museum of the University of Bologna earlier this year.
Like many great minds of his age, Aldrovandi was both a scientist and an artist. In 1568, he created Bologna's first botanical garden. During his lifetime he collected 18,000 natural specimens and archaeological and exotic objects. He put together the oldest collection in the world of dried plants, plus 17 volumes of water colours and 14 cabinets filled with woodcut blocks, all of which he bequeathed to his native city.
Visitors will be fascinated by his celebrated “Monstrorum Historia” – a study of monsters and supernatural creatures, which anticipates the arrival of science fiction some centuries later.
In the best traditions of Renaissance thinking, the exhibition also looks to the future, exploring themes like long distance space travel, human hibernation possibilities and what would represent memories of life on earth – all with the support of instruments and images from the National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF-OAS of Bologna and INAF-IAPS of Rome) as well as the European Space Agency, evoking a unified vision of art and science.
MUSEO CIVICO DI ZOOLOGIA, Rome, until 21st July 2024.
Info: Tel. +39.06.67109270 or 060608 www.museocivicodizoologia.it