At the Vatican Apostolic Library inaugurates the exhibition “En Route”, a sixth chapter of the path started in 2021 to relate its historical heritage with contemporary art.
The exhibition, curated by Don Giacomo Cardinali, Simona De Crescenzo, Francesca Giannetto and Delio V. Proverb, of the Vatican Apostolic Library, is part of the jubilee celebrations of 2025, declining the theme “Pilgrims of hope” in a reflection on the cultural dimension e symbolic of the journey.
At the center of the exhibition is the Poma Fund. Periodici, an exceptional collection of about 1,200 newspapers from all over the world, which belonged to the diplomat and erudite Cesare Poma (1862-1932).
Among the newspapers stands out “en route”, published by French journalists Lucien Leroy and Henri Papillaud between 1895 and 1897 to document and finance their journey around the world. Alongside this male narration, the exhibition also returns space to the stories of traveler women of the same time, a pioneer who challenged the limits imposed by the Victorian society.
With “En Route”, the Vatican Library expands its dialogue with contemporaneity, involving not only visual artists, but also musicians and designers.
Our institution proves to hold up the collision of worlds, languages and different thoughts, reacting with surprising vitality, “says the curator Don Giacomo Cardinali.
The artists
The Vatican Library involved three contemporary creatives to reinterpret the concept of travel in an artistic key: Lorenzo Jovanotti Cherubini, Kristjana S Williams and Maria Grazia Chiuri.
Lorenzo Jovanotti Cherubini Opens the exhibition itinerary with an installation that collects musical instruments, books, drawings and a travel diary created specifically for the exhibition.
The exhibition is enriched by an unpublished and personal element: the Jovanotti's on -board diary. Dense pages of words, sketches, thoughts, a creative flow that mixes travel and inspiration. Born in August 2024 precisely for this exhibition, the diary is an intertwining of memories, suggestions, meetings and cultural references. Among the figures that populate the pages, a place of honor is reserved for Alexander von Humboldt, explorer and scientist who considered the journey as an experience of total knowledge. Some tables of his work “Plantes Équinoxiales Recueillies au mexique” are exhibited next to Jovanotti's designs, creating a bridge between past and present, between science and art.
The exhibition itinerary includes a series of designs created by the artist on geographical maps, a personal reworking of the cartography that becomes Jova-Grafia, a visual reinterpretation of the world.
To accompany the route, an unprecedented sound installation, made with the producer and fresh sound engineer. Jovanotti defines it as “a sound journey”, a mix of fragments of songs, sounds, memories and narratives, a soundtrack in continuous movement that envelops the visitor in a unique sensorial experience.
In life, in travel, in vicissitudes, in things, in the adventures I often met the kindness of the strangers.
It exists, I met her, I often experienced it, and every time I noticed it, I remembered it, I felt its immense soft strength strong. The true 'soft power' of the world consists in the kindness of strangers, in recognizing human recognition, in giving a hand without any other purpose than this ».At La Habana I found the Rome of the early 70s where I was a child, those afternoons too blue and long, the few machines, the people who repair things before buying new ones. It seemed to me that I struck suddenly in the soil protrusions and to realize that it was my roots, that they had been transplanted ».
Diary-of-Viaggio-of-Lorenzo-Cherubini
Kristjana S WilliamsIcelandic illustrator, visually re -elaborates the explorations of Poma and the editors of “en route”, merging symbolism and poetic imagination.
It was an incredible honor to be called to be part of this exhibition with such stimulating creative partners. Having access to the archives of the Vatican Library was an extraordinary experience and it provided me with many sources of inspiration for my work. Historical documents offer a fascinating vision of the way in which human beings have lived and seen the world during many generations, and it is a privilege to be able to incorporate the stories of these travelers and pioneers in my works of art “.
It was a privilege to collaborate with the Vatican Library, Maria Grazia and Jovanotti for the realization of the works of this exhibition. The resources of the Vatican archives integrate perfectly with my style of collage, and we loved to tell the story of these extraordinary adventurers through art ».
Maria Grazia Chiuri, Artistic director of the Donna Dior collection, proposes a site-specific installation in collaboration with Karishma Swali and the craftsmen of the Chanakya School of Craft. His work reflects on the link between fashion and travel, exploring the power of the dress to adapt to body movements and the freedom of exploration.
It is a great privilege to have been invited to exhibit in the Vatican Apostolic Library, one of the oldest collections of books, maps and manuscripts. Knowledge and creativity are totally intertwined for me; I am honored and flattered that I have been able to imagine a project in such a significant place for our global education and culture.
Alighiero Boetti's contribution
The exhibition itinerary ends in the Sistine hall with “Map” (1984) by Alighiero Boetti, a loan from the Gallerie d'Italia of Intesa Sanpaolo in Naples. This iconic work, which represents a embroidered world map, underlines the theme of geography as a symbolic and political representation.
Parallel, thanks to the support of the Dior Maison and the Galateri family of Genola and Suniglia, the Poma Fund. Periodici will be cataloged, digitized and made available free of charge online, allowing global access to this precious historical heritage.
Info
En route
The exhibition will be open to the public from 15 February to 20 December 2025
https://enrouteproject.com/
Vatican Apostolic Library
Vatican city
