ACQUA, AQUAE, conceived by Immaginante, is an exhibition dedicated to water, a vital element and inexhaustible source of imagination, discovery and creativity.
Designed for nurseries, schools and families, the exhibition features interactive installations, workshop areas and special events where exploration becomes creative action. Water, in its many forms – from drops to puddles, fountains to streams, rivers to the sea – is rediscovered through visual, auditory and tactile experiences, conveyed by works of art, illustrations and immersive landscapes. An invitation to discover the poetic nuances of this natural element, a symbol of life and a precious resource to be loved, respected and protected. The exhibition engages children through aesthetic experiences that speak to the eye, the body and the emotions: active listening games, tactile landscapes, multimedia stories, sound illustrations and a workshop dedicated to the creation of “watery pages”. The exhibition is conceived by Arianna Sedioli, with installations by Marilena Benini, Alessio Caruso, Arianna Sedioli and Cristina Sedioli, and is enriched by original illustrations by Irene Penazzi from the book I giorni del mare (Terre di Mezzo Editore), as well as a bibliographic selection curated by the Classense Library.
The opening will take place on Saturday 31 January at 11 a.m., with a walk through the exhibition rooms accompanied by a travelling percussion concert with Andrea Rattini and musical entertainment by Immaginante. During the event, there will also be a playful presentation of the book I giorni del mare (The Days of the Sea) by author and illustrator Irene Penazzi. Participation is free, but booking is required. Throughout February, the exhibition will be enlivened by guided tours and workshops aimed at different audiences. Animated tours for families will take place on Saturdays and Sundays, with tours at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 4.30 p.m., while tours for nurseries and schools are scheduled from Tuesday to Friday starting at 9 a.m., with the possibility of organising groups on Friday afternoons as well.
Alongside the exhibition, the programme offers numerous workshops for families. On Sunday 1 February at 10.30am, there will be Disegna… il mare (Draw… the sea), a drawing workshop inspired by I giorni del mare (The days of the sea), led by Irene Penazzi and dedicated to children aged 3 to 8. On Sunday 8 February at 10.30 a.m., it is the turn of Floating Figures, an art workshop with Marilena Benini for the creation of fish and starfish that will give life to a collective installation. On Sunday 15 February at 10.30am, Splash! (Splash!), an art story and workshop curated by Cristina Sedioli, will be staged, followed by the creation of a pop-up page inspired by Hokusai. On Sunday 22 February at 10.30am, the cycle concludes with Gocce, bolle, onde (Drops, Bubbles, Waves), a musical narration and workshop that combines live music, storytelling and sound experimentation, in collaboration with the Education Section of the Teatro La Fenice in Venice.
The programme also includes an event dedicated to adults: on Saturday 21 February at 10 a.m., the workshop-event La natura è blu (Nature is Blue), led by Sonia Basilico, offers a journey through children’s literature, art and creativity, exploring the theme of water through stories, images, sounds and words. The workshop is aimed at teachers, parents and enthusiasts and includes a visit to the exhibition and the permanent collection of the MAR.