On the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the first edition of Carlo Collodi’s book “The Adventures of Pinocchio – Story of a Puppet”, the most translated Italian book in the world, the exhibition “Dearest Pinocchio: Italian designers and graphic artists redesign the world’s most famous puppet” arrives in Kosovo. The appointment is at “Prishtina Mall”, the largest shopping centre in the Balkans and southeastern Europe, where the exhibition can be visited from 6 to 29 April 2024 (daily from 10 to 22 h, free of charge).
Realised by “ADI Design Museum” based in Milano, curated by Giulio Iacchetti with exhibition design by Matteo Vercelloni and graphic design by Federica Marziale Iadevaia, the Kosovo stage of the exhibition is the result of the collaboration among the Italian Embassy in Pristina with the Italian Institute of Culture (IIC) and the Italian Trade and Investment Agency (ICE/ITA) in Tirana, the latter two also responsible for Kosovo, together with “Prishtina Mall”.
The exhibition is introduced by a historical section, curated by Marco Belpoliti, which welcomes the visitor with covers, drawings and historical illustrations and concludes with a selection of original drawings, taken from one of the last works by Andrea Branzi, the recently deceased architect, designer, theorist and undisputed protagonist of the radical avant-garde, to whom the exhibition is dedicated.
The heart of “Carissimo Pinocchio” are 62 new projects by 31 designers and 31 graphic designers, specially created for the exhibition, expressions of the feeling and doing of so many Italian designers: an enlarged look, able to tell the story of Italian design’s ability to create timeless images and objects, thus celebrating the myth of Geppetto, Pinocchio’s creator and father, “the first Italian designer” in the words of curator Iacchetti.
EXHIBITION AGENDA
The inauguration of the exhibition in Pristina is scheduled for Saturday 6 April at 19th, with Granit Miftari (RTV21) moderating, and speeches by Italian Deputy Ambassador Ugo Ferrero, “Prishtina Mall” Property Manager Alvaro Costa, and “ADI Design Museum” General Coordinator Maria Pina Poledda. In addition to the presentation of the exhibition, a special reading in Albanian of “Pinocchio” dedicated to children is also on the programme, with games and gifts.
“The 140th anniversary of Collodi’s book is an opportunity to celebrate and commemorate a masterpiece of Italian literature, but also to emphasise the multidisciplinary nature of the design that inspired the figure of Pinocchio, a design that is heritage of a cultural richness capable of asking questions as well as providing answers to everyday needs”, Italian Ambassador Antonello De Riu explained.
“We are particularly proud of this cultural cooperation with the Italian Embassy and other actors of Sistema Italia in Kosovo, started already with ‘The Italian Week of Cousin in the World’. Besides, traces of Italian design and numerous ‘Made in Italy’ products are however scattered all over our shopping centre, which with its spaces and varied offer intends to be a bridge between cultures”, Managing Director of “Prishtina Mall” Alvaro Costa added.
During the exhibition in Kosovo, the Dukagjini publishing house offers a special 10% discount for the purchasing of the book “The Adventures of Pinocchio” at its bookshop in the shopping centre.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
“The Adventures of Pinocchio. Story of a puppet” is a fantasy novel for children written by Carlo Collodi, pseudonym of the journalist and novelist Carlo Lorenzini, first published in Florence in February 1883. It recounts the tragicomic experiences of Pinocchio, a handcrafted animated puppet, regarded as a son by the carpenter Geppetto; thanks to the help of the Blue-haired Fairy it will manage to mature morally, becoming finally a boy in flesh and blood. The first Albanian version of the book was published by Cuk Simoni in 1935.
The exhibition “Carissimo Pinocchio” was shown at the “ADI Design Museum” between the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, attracting more than 20,000 visitors. Thanks to the collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the exhibition set off on a two-year international tour that has already touched down in San Francisco and Skopje. After the Pristina stage, the exhibition will move to Tirana and then on to Belgrade. It will then continue its journey to the rest of Europe, Asia and America. At the end of the itinerant tour, the 62 made ad hoc Pinocchio’s will be auctioned off in a charity auction.
ABOUT PRISHTINA MALL
“Prishtina Mall” is the biggest shopping mall in Southeast Europe, offering the strongest variety of brands and customer services, while providing a unique and memorable experience. It is a leader in entertainment and shopping in the region. Since its grand opening in 2023, the Mall has become an important destination for both local and regional visitors. The mall features over 230 shops and restaurants, leading to the creation of over 3,000 new jobs. On March 9th, 2024, “Prishtina Mall” celebrated its first anniversary, marking a significant milestone.
(Published on 02.04.2024. Updated on 08.04.2024)
