Italian Violin Makers of the 21st Century
in collaboration with ALI, ANLAI, CNA, Confartigianato
september 14 – october 12
The craft of violin making, rich in history, brings together tradition, innovation and artistic and cultural values. This exhibition pays tribute to Italy’s contemporary instrument makers, whose works are an expression of a unique and precious heritage of knowledge and skills.
Within the Museo del Violino, the works by contemporary maestros offer the perfect continuation after the galleries containing the great masterpieces of Stradivari, Amati and Guarneri, offering the chance to discover eclectic and surprising artistic connections.
“Italian Violin Makers of the 21st Century” is first and foremost a recognition of the cultural significance of the art of constructing bowed string instruments. While it is true that the excellence of “Made in Italy” is based on design and execution skills that are the envy of the rest of the world , it is also true that all this beauty could not exist without the work of a maestro. It therefore comes as no surprise that UNESCO has included “traditional violin craftsmanship in Cremona” on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, in recognition of its cultural importance. One corner of the exhibition will be dedicated to this major acknowledgement.
The exhibition wants to underline how “violin craftsmanship” is a precious cultural treasure, representing an opportunity for development and growth. Now as never before, maestros must be able to interpret the spirit of the age and bring together tradition and innovation in their work. Indeed, their work expresses an tireless quest for stylistic values and technical solutions and demonstrates the vivacity of the art of violin making, enriching it with new stimuli and content and confirming its topical relevance.
The exhibition is also a continuation of a process of investigation begun by the museum in January. As part of the Opificio del Suono (“sound factory”) project, the museum has been organizing temporary exhibitions dedicated to the leading schools of Italian violin making in the 20th century. At the same time, it also serves as a prelude to the 16th edition of the Antonio Stradivari International Competition for String Instruments, which in autumn 2015 will see the world’s best instrument makers compete in what’s come to be known as the Olympics of violin making.
Curated by: Virginia Villa, Director of the Fondazione Museo del Violino Antonio Stradivari Cremona
Fausto Cacciatori, Curator of the Museo del Violino Collections, founder and scientific coordinator of the project