The monographic exhibition celebrating Wisława Szymborska, the Polish Nobel Prize-winning poet in 1996, is open until September 3rd. Named "Wisława Szymborska: The Joy of Writing," it began on June 15th at Genoa's Villa Croce Museum of Contemporary Art, Via Jacopo Ruffini 3. Curated by Sergio Maifredi with scenic designs by Michał Jandura, it benefits from the scientific collaboration of Slavic Studies professors Andrea Ceccherelli and Luigi Marinelli from the University Alma Mater of Bologna and La Sapienza University of Rome. Organized by Genoa's Municipality, produced by Teatro Pubblico Ligure, co-produced with the IAM Adam Mickiewicz Institute in Warsaw, with patronage from the Wisława Szymborska Foundation in Krakow, and collaboration with the Polish Institute Rome.

 

The exhibition commemorates the centenary of the 1996 Nobel Prize laureate, featuring 85 collages by Szymborska, gifted tokens of friendship to private collectors like poet Jarosłav Mikołajewski. These collages illuminate her creative journey, connecting visual language and writing. Displayed in various sizes, they are accompanied by 100 maxims from her poems. Panels on the second floor depict her life, while the main floor showcases original collages, her illustrated English book from childhood, notebook fragments, photographs, love letters, and even ten recently discovered unpublished poems from her first husband, her initial publisher.

 

The third floor houses documents, travel photos, and a documentary film. Woody Allen's presence is felt through a collage gifted by Szymborska, as documented in the film "Life Can Be Endurable Sometimes: An Ironic Portrait of Wisława Szymborska." The exhibit boasts ten unpublished compositions translated into Italian, along with Szymborska's voice in QR code-accessible voicemails. The exhibition delves into the life and creative world of the Polish poet, integrating poems, collages, and graphic works, brought together through Michał Jandura's scenographic arrangement.

 

Notable events include Lucio Fontana's black Egg ceramic display and the performance "Listen to How Your Heart Beats Strongly: Poems, Letters, and Other Trinkets of Wisława Szymborska" at the 29th International Poetry Festival "Wide-Open Words. Guided tours are available, and the connection between Szymborska and Genoa is intertwined with translator Pietro Marchesani's efforts and early publications.

 

The "Wisława Szymborska: The Joy of Writing" exhibition is a cornerstone of her centenary celebration, supported by various institutions. Additional events continue across Italy, preserving and exploring her legacy.

 

Institutional sponsor of the Municipality of Genoa: IREN

 

Tue - Fri 11 AM - 6 PM / Sat - Sun 12 PM - 7 PM. Closed on Mondays.

Full price €5 - Reduced price €3

 

Thursday, June 15th, opening at 6:30 PM, free entry by invitation until 8 PM

From Tuesday to Friday, opening hours 11 AM - 6 PM

Saturday and Sunday, opening hours 12 PM - 7 PM

Closed on Mondays

 

Full price €5

Reduced price €3

 

Friday, July 7th, and Wednesday, July 12th, at 4:30 PM, guided tour by curator Sergio Maifredi