Confucius
Confucius (1)

1. "The Master of Ten Thousand Generations" − the entrance of the exhibition by Francesco di Giorgio Martini´s the Spiral Ramp

Confucius (2)

2. A vertical curved glass display case containing special salts to protect the exhibits against humidity. Halogen low voltage dycroic lamp is installed in the top to illuminate the interior

Confucius (3)

3. The display cases, which are unusually shaped and sized, were designed to be distinctive and expressive enought to assert themselves in architectural setting that already have a powerful identity of their own. Illumination is provided by reflected light from the side that plays on the objects in bands running horizontally to the display surface




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The exhibition itself had to be very large and scattered in several buildings which suggested a dual itenerary, one thematic to make Confucian doctrine more accessible, the other based on buildings themselves to reveal some of architectural riches of Urbino´s historical centre. "The Master of Ten Thousand Generations" and "Illustrious Forefathers" in Francesco di Giorgio Martini´s Spiral Ramp; "Master of Wisdom and Virtue" and "The art of Good Governement" in Castellare room of the Ducal Palace; "The Virtue. The Rite. The palace" and "the Hall of Virtues and Life" in Church of St. Domenic; "Material Culture" in the Music School Chapel. Leaving intact the exhibition spaces, wich are important in their own right, a clear, central exhibition route was created using platforms of different heights and dividing screens to separate the display cases. The baroque Church of St. Domenic needed more decisive treatment. Huge dark blue fabric hanging screens twelve metres high were installed to divide the space into three sections and provide suitable backdrops for exhibits. The theatrical effect is enhanced by top lighting using narrow-beam spots trained directly on the exhibits. Light was used also to reduce the volume of exhibition spaces. ... Alternations of diffused light and darkness carry the visitors into a magical, mysterious world that restores them to the light of day only in the final section on material culture where ancient and modern China met. (Exporre, March 1994, pp. 6-7)
Urbino, Italy
(In collaboration w/ Arch. L. Griziotti)
Piero Castiglioni