The contribution of science to the growth that Venice experienced between the 19th and 20th centuries is at the heart of an exhibition curated by the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti (IVSLA), the Veneto Istitution for Science, Literature and Arts and Venice Sustainability Foundation. As part of the Biennale della Sostenibilità 2023 – The MOSE Era, between October 7th and November 12th (free admission, everyday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.), the exhibition “Venice and Science, Two Centuries of Sustainability” uncovers the transformations that have taken place in Venice in its most recent history, driven by scientific and technological progress.
Through more than 80 shown pieces and other 300 that can be explored through an immersive installation, the exhibition analyzes various aspects of city life, from infrastructure to mobility, from social services to economy, from hygiene to residency. All of them are central themes for the modernization of large European cities during that historical time.
“This exhibition, with its exciting contributions, is a surprise, as it puts the spotlight on a period less known to the public at large and offers an interesting insight into how Venice and its peculiarity managed to tackle the issue of modernization,” said Renato Brunetta, president of Venice Sustainability Foundation.
The exhibition is a journey through documents of the Institute that attest to an enthusiastic, sometimes stark but always fascinating planning, especially aimed at those who lived the city. Sustainability should be sought precisely in the balance that was created between the ambitions of the civil society and its context in those days,” commented Andrea Rinaldo, president of the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti (IVSLA).
