INSIDE MAGRITTE: Extraordinary multimedia exhibition at the Santo Stefano al Ponte Cathedral

Banner of exhibition

“Simbolica” by Beatrice Brandini

From tomorrow, November 1st (until March 2020), at the Santo Stefano al Ponte Cathedral in Florence, the beautiful exhibition “INSIDE MAGRITTE” will be inaugurated, on one of the most important artists of the 20th century.

Images taken from the INSIDE MAGRITTE exhibition

An experience between the real and the imaginary, between the evocation of a dream world and the story of real life, on one of the most important masters of surrealism: René Magritte. An exhibition itinerary conceived and signed by Crossmedia Group – Hepco, directed by The Fake Factory.

View inside the Cathedral of Santo Stefano al Ponte

Images taken from the INSIDE MAGRITTE exhibition

The location is already a reason to visit the exhibition, that is the deconsecrated church of the Image Cathedral in the monumental complex of Santo Stefano al Ponte in Florence, but it is the exhibition itself, which I previewed and which I am telling here with great enthusiasm, to to be the absolute protagonist. The universe of Magritte, accompanied by suggestive images, sounds and music, transports us to a fantasy world, in a dream from which you would never want to wake up.

Images taken from the INSIDE MAGRITTE exhibition

The exhibition, curated by Julie Waseige, an art historian and former scientific director of the Magritte Museum in Brussels, leads us and transports us into the most famous icons of the master of surrealism: men in bowler hats, clouds, doves, pipes and human bodies with fish head …, they float out of time, taking us on this wonderful journey.

The press conference with Gabriella Farsi, Federico Dalgas e Stefano Fomasi

The exhibition is divided into chapters, the continuous stream of high definition images of the immersive room, experience room, is the heart of the exhibition (and of the experience, because this is what it is all about!); the space is completely occupied, from the floor to the walls, from the crypt to the naves, from the altars to the tympanum, a riot of surrealist symbols. Then there is the small Sala degli Specchi, where the visitor will be lost in a kaleidoscope of signs and figures. Finally a 3D experience with Oculus VR, a project developed by the Crossmedia Group team with the collaboration of the artist Chunhui Lui.

Images taken from the INSIDE MAGRITTE exhibition

What we do through this exhibition is a multisensory journey, and since every aspect of Magritte’s poetics is illusion and allusion, the images that alternate within this evocative space amplify this feeling of “deception”.

“For me art consists of painting magic spell and pleasure”. René Magritte

Image taken from the INSIDE MAGRITTE exhibition

I conclude by thinking about the emotions I felt in seeing these beautiful images: “The head in the clouds”, Magritte’s clouds, of course, a positive feeling, a bliss capable of making you go far with your own thoughts.

Probably I’ll be bringing my son this weekend, I’m sure he’ll be thrilled.