In Parma, in the splendid Palazzo del Governatore, Saturday 13 January 2024 opens to the public Impronte. Noi e le piante , unique exhibition that traces in more than 200 figurative objects (historical herbals, botanical illustrations, nature prints and xylographs, as well as modern photographs and high-tech images) the relationship between humanity and nature, botany and images, science and art.
Today the presentation at the Laboratorio Aperto of the St Paul’s Complex, with speeches by the Rector Paolo Martelli, of the Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Culture and Tourism of the Municipality of Parma Lorenzo Lavagetto, of the Scientific Director of the Botanical Garden Renato Bruni, Responsible for the scientific project of the exhibition, the President of the Fondazione Cariparma Franco Magnani, by the President of the Chiesi Group Alessandro Chiesi, by the President of the Davines Group Davide Bollati.
Realised by the University of Parma in collaboration with the Municipality of Parma and the support of the Cariparma Foundation,Chiesi Group and Davines Group,
The exhibition “Impronte” has 10 sections:
1 The age of drawing – between decoration and study
2 Scientific illustration – between aesthetics and identity
3 At botany school – images of real knowledge
4 The world of illustrators – a door to science
5 The Parma Collections – an opening time capsule
6 The age of technology – serial images and objectivity
7 Photographs and new eyes – plants beyond the visible
8 Plants and the world – interacting organisms
9 Holistic images – beyond mere form
10 Group photos – us and plants in the city, in the fields, in the woods.
Numerous events will accompany the exhibition:
Workshops and guided tours
Science and art to be seen, known and experienced. Faithful to its vocation of openness and exchange with the public, the University of Parma enriches the Impronte exhibition offer by organising a rich calendar of workshops (organised by Esperta) and guided tours (organised by Artificio). Fifty appointments – bookable through the University museum system – aimed at students young and old, from primary to high school, where they can have fun discovering all the secrets of the long history of botanical representation. Adults, on the other hand, will be able to take part in special guided tours at certain weekends, to explore the themes dealt with in the ten sections of the exhibition in depth, amidst anecdotes and curiosities.
The competition: Impronte OFF
An illustration competition open to young illustrators, an exhibition/happening that will enrich the exhibition itinerary, and two meetings outside the city to make the Botanical Garden of Parma known not only as a place of study but also as an innovative aggregative pole, designed for the new generations. The Impronte Off programme – conceived by Interno Verde and promoted by the association “Parma, io ci sto!” – will accompany the exhibition by involving students and professionals under 35, thus helping to familiarise girls and boys with the role that the Botanical Garden will assume for the territory. The call for entries for the illustration competition, based on the theme of fantastic botany, will be published on Monday 18 December on the website www.internoverde.it and will remain open until Sunday 28 January.
Ten finalists will be selected to exhibit their works within Impronte. Further events aimed at exploring the potential of botanical representation will be organised between February and March in both Milan and Bologna.
“Impronte. Noi e le piante” is realised by the University of Parma in collaboration with the Municipality of Parma, the support of Fondazione Cariparma, Gruppo Chiesi and Gruppo Davines and with the patronage and collaboration of the University of Padova, le Scienze and National Geographic.
Information:
The exhibition can be visited free of charge from 13 January to 1 April, Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., including holidays.
