Martin Barbosa, Marina
Independent researcher / Photo Elysée - Museum for Photography, Lausanne
Switzerland, Lausanne
Marina Martin Barbosa has a Ph.D. in History (line of research Politics, Memory, and Cities) from the State University of Campinas and in Art History from the Ca' Foscari and IUAV Universities of Venice (2015). She holds a master’s degree in Conservation and Enhancement of historical and cultural heritage, with a focus on industrial heritage, from the University Paris 1-Panthéon-Sorbonne, the University of Évora and the University of Padua (2010). She is Architect and Urban Designer (São Paulo University State) with a training completed at ENSA Paris La Villette (2007). Her professional experience includes the management of art collections, the coordination and design of exhibitions, teaching Expography/Museography, and working with conservation and restoration projects of architectural heritage. She currently works at Photo Elysée - Museum for Photography, Lausanne as Exhibitions and Collection Registrar and is member of the VKKS -ASHHA (Swiss Association of Art Historians) and part of the executive committee of ICOM-ICAMT (International Committee for Architecture and Museum Techniques).
Curating the Exhibition Design and Designing the Exhibits' Curation: Gae Aulenti and the Phoenicians at Palazzo Grassi
The objective of this paper is to analyze the importance of dialogue between museum professionals, specifically the Exhibition Designer and Curator, in the development of successful exhibition projects. In this context, the main protagonist chosen is the Italian architect and designer Gaetana "Gae" Aulenti (1927 - 2012), who throughout her career worked on projects for the renovation of buildings for museum use and exhibition spaces. Notable examples include the Musée d'Orsay and the Galerie d'Art Contemporain at the Centre Pompidou, both in Paris, and the Palazzo Grassi in Venice.
Regarding Palazzo Grassi, in 1983, the Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino - FIAT purchased this palace to present important temporary art and archaeology exhibitions to the general public and specialists, entrusting Aulenti with the renovation and interior design projects. Dating back to the 18th century, the building presented various technological restrictions; despite this, its first exhibition was inaugurated in the summer of 1986, after only 13 months of work. Aulenti declared that her goal was not to create a museum but an exhibition space. In fact, her collaboration during the FIAT administration went beyond this, as she also designed innovative exhibitions, in close collaboration with the responsible curators.
Thus, this work addresses initial investigations into the fourth highly successful exhibition held at Palazzo Grassi during the FIAT administration, titled "I Fenici" The Phoenicians, which ran from March to November 1988, under the scientific direction of Feliciano Benvenuti. This historical exhibition aimed to describe the Phoenician civilization in its development and diversification of areas, its connections with other civilizations, with special reference to "Orientalizing" art. It was realized in collaboration with other museums, universities, and research centers, and thanks to its division into sections, featuring graphic panels, films, and audiovisuals, designed by Aulenti, the result was astonishing.
Exhibition Designer, Curator, Gae Aulenti, Palazzo Grassi, Phoenicians