Inside Magritte

Powerful multimedia immersive exhibition on the art of the iconic painter.

From 01 November 2019 to 01 March 2020

From November 1, 2019 to March 1, 2020 the Santo Stefano Al Ponte Auditorium in Florence hosts another unmissable exhibition in which multimedia art takes centre stage. This is the exhibition 'Inside Magritte’, which thanks to the most modern technological solutions, offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in all the magic of the iconic paintings of the Belgian artist.

The Magritte Exhibition is housed in the Church of Santo Stefano al Ponte in Florence, located in the center of Florence, literally a stone's throw from Ponte Vecchio. Built in 1100, after being deconsecrated, in 2015 it was reopened to the public, becoming a multifunctional hall where concerts and other interesting events take place. It is run under the management of Crossmedia Group, one of the leading firms offering modern strategies for the creation of exhibitions, avant-garde multimedia applications and creative digital products. It was behind a series of events that attracted the public in great numbers, such as 'Da Vinci Experience', 'Incredible Florence' 'Klimt Experience' seen by 80,000 visitors. The company has also patented a new multimedia platform: the 'Matrix-X-Dimension' technology that supports, for the first time, the creation of a real 'immersive experience'.

As was the case with the Van Gogh exhibition, the Magritte exhibition in Florence will be a multimedia exhibition featuring elements that make it truly unique. The images will not be projected on panels but directly on the walls, on the floor and on every surface of the Santo Stefano Church in Florence. The event, born from the collaboration between CrossmediaGroup, Hepco and the Fake Factory, will transform the main hall of the exhibition into a real ‘experience room’. In the 'Cathedral of the image', as the Santo Stefano al Ponte auditorium has been renamed, the altar by Giambologna, Buontalenti’s balcony and the earthen tombs will become wonderful supports for the exciting succession of projections of the paintings of the great Master of Surrealism. It will feel as if the images of men with bowler hats, pipes and the classic veiled faces typical of Magritte are enveloping you.

The Magritte immersive exhibition in Florence, curated by Julie Waseige, one of the greatest scholars of the surrealist painter, is made up of 160 works that will be displayed in succession on various multimedia supports. A far-reaching exhibition that will take you on an incredible journey around the drawings and atmospheres of one of the protagonists of 1900s painting. Displaying so many works would have been almost impossible had a traditional layout been chosen instead of a multimedia one.

Among the works of Renè Magritte, which you will be able to admire in the various stages of the show, you will certainly see the most famous ones that have become real icons of their time. Just think of ‘The Treachery of Images’ (La Trahison des images) in which under the image of a pipe is the text ‘This is not a pipe’ because in fact that is only the drawing of what is used for smoking. This is the eternal dilemma that art poses with respect to the representation of reality and which Magritte solves almost with a play on words. And what about ‘The Lovers’ (Les Amants)? It is the painting where two figures seem to kiss one another but their faces are covered with white fabric that conceals their traits. Seeing it reproduced in high definition in enormous dimensions will really be an incredible experience that you can only enjoy at the Magritte multimedia exhibit in Florence! One of the emblematic figures of the Belgian painter are men in elegant suits and bowler hats. They are often depicted in his works and represent the society of Magritte’s time that he considered mean and corrupt. A whole ‘rain’ of them is the subject of ‘Golconda’ while the one with the apple in front of the face in ‘The Son of Man’ was chosen as the image of the poster of the Magritte's multimedia exhibit in Florence. In the exhibition unfolding inside the Florence Santo Stefano al Ponte church, thanks to panels and other digital media, you will also be able to capture the most important and significant moments of Magritte's biography and the most significant stages of his artistic career.

With its technological features, the multimedia Magritte exhibit will also delight young visitors. If your kids are passionate about videogames and your teenagers are engrossed in all things video, for once you will not see them wandering around the paintings looking bored. On the contrary, they will have a lot of fun, especially when donning the oculus VR, the special super-technological headset that will create a 3D view of the paintings thanks to the VR Experience. As Federico Dalgas, president of the Crossmedia Group, tells us, the firm’s exhibitions are products created by young people for young people. In fact, it is a team of young people between 25 and 35 years old. It is their creative contribution that makes these exhibitions particularly suited to their peers, even if universal and engaging communication can talk to all audience regardless of their age.

In short, the multimedia Magritte exhibition in Florence, open until March 1, 2020, is really an excellent idea for your holiday in the lily city: perfect if you are here with your whole family, children included, spot on if it’s you and your partner but also if you decide to share this moment with your friends. What do you think, does it sound like a good idea to spend a few days in beautiful Tuscany? What are you waiting for? Choose the most convenient time for you and stop for a few days in Florence! Not sure where to start to visit this fantastic city? Fear not! On Toscanainside.com you will find many Tours in Florence and be able to choose the one that best suits your interests. What else could you ask for?

Multimedia immersive exhibition: ‘Inside Magritte’

Dates: from November 1, 2019 to March 1, 2020

Times: everyday, from 10:00 to 19:30

Location: Santo Stefano al Ponte Florence – Piazza Santo Stefano, 5

Magritte Exhibition tickets and info: www.santostefanoalponte.it; www.insidemagritte.com