At the Fondazione Prada in Milan, the exhibition Paraventi: Folding Screens from the 17th to the 21st Century, curated by Nicholas Cullinan, offers a compelling exploration of the enduring tradition and evolving forms of paravents. A stroll through the ground and first floors of the podium, skilfully designed by SANAA architects, reveals a fascinating display of 70 folding screens, encased in a bubble-like world of transparent Plexiglas and complemented by elegant grey curtains, creating an intriguing maze through the history of folding screens.
The exhibition Paraventi: Folding Screens from the 17th to the 21st Century will be shown from 26 October 2023 to 22 February 2024, along with related exhibitions at Prada Rong Zhai in Shanghai and Prada Aoyama Tokyo in Japan. These exhibitions explore the historical lineage of folding screens in both Eastern and Western traditions. At the Fondazione Prada in Milan, visitors can enjoy Chinese and Japanese screens depicting naval battles and aerial views, as well as modern screens that resemble a large cheese grater and transformed bookshelves. Films projected onto cloth-covered wooden frames show captivating Japanese landscapes and a figure adorned with rabbit ears.
All photography by DELFINO SISTO LEGNANI and ALESSANDRO SALETTA @ DSL STUDIO
