TORONTO – In 2021, UNESCO officially recognized the remarkable artistic and cultural value of the magnificent fourteenth-century frescoes by Giotto, depicted in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padoa. These frescoes have been included in the World Heritage List. To celebrate this significant acknowledgment, the Istituto Italiano di Cultura Toronto (IIC) is proud to present the second stop of the exhibition “The Magic of Giotto”, February 8-29, at Istituto Italiano di Cultura | 496 Huron Street, Toronto.  

The Scrovegni Chapel is the place where Western painting was revolutionized in the XIII century, where depiction of reality returned, after medieval symbolism. Finally, spectators could find their history, their cities, their homes, their emotions. Giotto is a protagonist of this monumental shift in religious art, being universally recognized as one of the first Renaissance painters.

This exhibition, now on its second stop, follows its premiere at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in New York in November 2023, where it was welcomed with great success. The journey guides visitors through the splendors of the fourteenth century in Padua, culminating in an immersive encounter with Giotto’s Scrovegni Chapel.

Curated by Maria Beatrice Autizi, Fabio Finotti (in New York City), and Veronica Manson (in Toronto), the exhibition creatively blends artistic and cultural aspects with technology, thanks to the expertise of Hidonix, a company specialized in Spatial Intelligence, Extended Reality, and Artificial Intelligence.

The goal of this exceptional display is to highlight Giotto’s frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel through Mixed Reality technology, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in a high-definition holographic reproduction of the chapel, sacristy, and crypt— the latter area not normally open to the public.

The exhibition innovatively combines art, culture, and technology throughout the entire visitor experience, including a physical display with explanatory panels delving into key exhibition themes. Additionally, attendees can enhance their experience using a mobile app that provides details and supplementary content on the history of Giotto and the Scrovegni Chapel through image recognition technology. The show is a unique opportunity to explore the fusion of art and technology in celebrating the genius of Giotto and the Italian cultural heritage.

The “Magic of Giotto” is presented in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto, the Italian cultural Institute in New York, the Musei Civici of the city of Padua, and the Company Hidonix.

February 8-29, 2024, Monday to Saturday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM – Istituto Italiano di Cultura | 496 Huron Street, Toronto ON

Tickets will be available for purchase starting February 1, 2024, on the website www.themagicofgiotto.com