VIRTUAL MUSEUM: THE MUVIG IS THE FIRST VIRTUAL MUSEUM IN ITALY DEDICATED TO PAINTING
Before entering the Muvig I had never visited a virtual museum.
I’ll be frank: the idea of entering a virtual museum had never appealed to me, because I always thought that a museum should house real works and not reproductions.
I changed my mind after visiting the Muvig, the Museo Virtuale del Garofalo (the Virtual Museum of Garofalo) located few kilometers from Rovigo, and which is dedicated to the Renaissance painter Benvenuto Tisi, known as “Garofalo”.
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That’s why I liked this virtual museum and why I recommend it to you.
A traditional museum is a collection of objects and works of art belonging to a period of history, to a historical figure or to a territory; a virtual museum, instead, is an instrument of cultural communication.
A virtual museum doesn’t contain objects and works of art, but organizes information and involves visitors who are encouraged to perform actions and become active subjects during the tour of the exhibition.
Visitor involvement transforms the museum into a place where you can experience and where artworks, virtually reproduced through technological devices, become inspirations and suggestions.
THE MUVIG PROJECT
The Muvig is located inside the building which, according to tradition, was the birthplace of Garofalo.
Inside a small structure there are 10 rooms illustrating the life of one of the protagonists of the Renaissance in the city of Ferrara. In each room you can discover the artist by following 4 different paths:
- presentation of Garofalo’s artworks;
- details of his paintings;
- historical context in which the artist lived;
- educational games.
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WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT THE MUVIG
The Muvig is the first virtual museum in Italy dedicated to painting and, therefore, is a one-of-a-kind museum, and which can certainly inspire also traditional museums in the way they promote artworks.
This virtual museum allows you to admire Garofalo’s artworks which are now scattered all over the world in more than 40 museums located in 12 countries, and which can hardly be brought together.
Therefore, this museum is a container of multimedia devices, but also a great chance for scholars, art lovers and curious visitors, because the virtual museum is a place where you can learn, discover, experiment and play.
Technological devices make this virtual journey interesting and useful.
In fact this journey brings you to the place of origin of the artist, allows you to know his works and to compare the style of his early artworks with that of his mature works.
The experience is fascinating and also augmented reality has been used. In addition, you can share your experience on social networks.
HOW TO GET TO THE MUSEUM
By car: Highway A13 Bologna Padova, Occhiobello exit, Ferrara direction – take SS16 Rovigo direction during 12 km to Garofalo locality of Canaro.
By train: Railways Bologna-Venice, Canaro stop.
LINK: Museum website – http://www.muvig.it/it
Benvenuto Tisi detto il Garofalo, Orazione nell’orto” (1525)
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