On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and China, the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai, and the 100th anniversary of the founding of Treccani, the exhibition “Palazzo Treccani (1925-2025). Italian Culture for All” was inaugurated in Shanghai. This exhibition is the result of a collaboration between the Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana Treccani and Hantang Culture, and is promoted by the Consulate General and the Italian Cultural Institute in Shanghai.
The exhibition project aims to celebrate Italy’s contribution to the dissemination of knowledge and culture worldwide. The exhibition presents a dual path that begins with the physical spaces of the Palazzo Mattei di Paganica (the headquarters of Treccani), shown through the introductory video “Inside the Palace“. It continues with the installation “Res Manent, Verba Volant” and then moves into the thematic spaces of “Italian Fashion“, “Studiolo“, and the “Gallery of Italian Culture“, all enriched with iconic objects from Treccani’s cultural activities.
The exhibition is curated by Massimo Bray, Director-General of the Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana Treccani, and Francesco D’Arelli, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Shanghai, with artistic direction and multimedia design by Dotdotdot.
In particular, the space dedicated to Italian fashion is designed to celebrate the first “Italian Fashion Day Worldwide” – a showcase promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – in Shanghai. It features a presentation of the special volume “La Moda Italiana”, published by Treccani and commissioned by Hantang Culture. This volume, which revisits the exhibition “Beauty Changes – 100 Years of Italian Fashion and Culture”, explores the connections between painting, opera, theatre, music, cinema, and Italian craftsmanship, illustrating Italian manufacturing and its influence on global fashion.
At the opening, the Consul General, Tiziana D’Angelo, emphasized that “Treccani is the custodian of the Italian language and culture, a beacon of knowledge that illuminates generations even beyond national borders. This exhibition is a clear testament to its natural vocation as a fundamental piece of the cultural bridge between Italy and China, strengthening the dialogue between the two countries.”
