The Roman museum dedicated to the 21st-century art
The National Museum of XXI Century Art, better known as MAXXI, opened in 2010 as the first Italian institution dedicated to contemporary art. The current health emergency means that the doors of the huge former Roman barracks redesigned by Zaha Hadid are closed. However, the museum, as a platform open to all the languages of creativity, does not stop to spread beauty and knowledge. MAXXI moved its proposals online with lessons, stories, behind the scenes, and guided tours.
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During the past three weeks of lockdown, the museum received 4 million virtual visits. Thus bringing architects, musicians, artists, writers, poets, and directors in the homes of as many art lovers.
It made them talk to each other opening new communication channels exploiting the internet’s power of widespread dissemination. The idea is to fulfill the demands for avant-garde art directly into the living room. And its success exceeded even the most optimistic expectations. MAXXI is present every day of Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Telegram with a wide range of proposals.
Giovanna Melandri, President of the MAXXI Foundation says: “At this time, it is particularly important to continue offering culture, even with a different way of fruition: no longer physical but virtual. Through the digital dimension, we will be close to our public. We will stay at home with them, to continue to offer food for thought and discussion, to create communities, to be free to go outside with our thoughts and to focus, in these days, on thinking and planning a different future.”
Virtual visits to the MAXXI Collection are scheduled with artists and curators who will accompany the public in the exploration of the most iconic works. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, MAXXI will also offer the opportunity to relive the first 10 years of its history. Among the most beautiful exhibitions to be remembered, there are those dedicated to Gio Ponti, Maria Lai and, back in time, to Paolo Pellegrin, Letizia Battaglia.
Cover ph: from the official Maxxi’s Facebook page