Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni inaugurated an exhibition honoring Marco Polo at the China Millennium Monument in Beijing on Monday, marking her first state visit to China since taking office. The exhibition, titled “A Journey of Knowledge: The Travels of Marco Polo and Its Legacy Between East and West,” commemorates both the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo’s death and the 20th anniversary of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership.
The exhibit, featuring over 130 artifacts from 15 museums in China and Italy, is divided into six thematic sections. Visitors can explore manuscripts, oil paintings, sculptures, jewelry, ceramics, coins, glass items, textiles, and even a VR experience, all narrating the captivating journey of the legendary Venetian explorer.
Italian Ambassador to China Massimo Ambrosetti highlighted the exhibition’s significance in strengthening the long-standing ties between Italy and China. He emphasized that events like the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo’s death reinforce the deep interconnectivity of the two civilizations and the importance of cultural dialogue for future collaboration.
A Unique Collaborative Effort
Guicciardo Sassoli de Bianchi, an art historian and project curator with the Italian Institute of Culture in Beijing, emphasized the importance of this rare collaborative effort. He noted, “This is the first time so many Italian and Chinese museums have come together for a single exhibition.” The Italian Embassy in China, the Italian Institute of Culture, and two Chinese museums worked together to showcase the best artworks narrating Marco Polo’s story through art.
Giorgia Cestaro, project curator at the Italian Embassy in Beijing, explained that the exhibition aims to recreate Marco Polo’s travels through geography and narratives from his book. Visitors can experience Marco Polo’s journey and explore how the Western world perceived the East through his writings and maps.
The Legacy of Marco Polo
Marco Polo’s travels and his seminal work, Travels in the Land of Kublai Khan, represent a significant phase of global interaction between the East and West. His stories deepened European understanding of far-off kingdoms, particularly China, and exemplified the rich cultural exchange that continues to inspire today.
The exhibition also features exquisite artifacts, including silk and porcelain wares from the Yuan Dynasty, guiding visitors through a journey of cultural exchange and legacy. Designer Joseph Dejardin explained that the evolving architecture of the exhibition illustrates how Venice, influenced by its global trade relationships, blended Western and Eastern elements.
Bridging Past and Present
Prime Minister Meloni emphasized Marco Polo’s role as a bridge between realities, showcasing what a single person can build and pass on. During the inauguration ceremony, she mentioned that Marco Polo introduced China to Westerners, while Matteo Ricci helped the Chinese understand Europe and the West. Both figures exemplify inclusiveness and a desire to learn and understand rather than impose knowledge.
Chiara Squarcina, Scientific Director of the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia, praised Marco Polo for his respectful approach to storytelling, free from paradigms and stereotypes. This perspective has allowed his stories to remain relevant and inspiring, devoid of preconceptions.
Promoting Cultural Dialogue
Federico Antonelli, cultural counselor of the Italian Embassy in China, highlighted the diverse activities organized by the Italian Cultural Institute of Beijing to promote Italian culture and commemorate Marco Polo’s legacy. These include republishing Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino and a comic based on Geronimo Stilton – A Thousand Wonders: A Journey to Discover Italy. Additionally, the first TV series co-produced by a Chinese film studio and Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI), Marco Polo, was screened, captivating audiences despite its 1982 production.
A photography exhibition by the Italian ANSA news agency, showcasing the places Marco Polo visited then and now, has been held in various cities, including Hong Kong, Beijing, and Chongqing.
Inspiring Future Generations
Marco Polo’s stories continue to inspire travel and mutual understanding. As a merchant, his perspectives highlighted the early integration of the world economy, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect and understanding. These values remain crucial today as we continue to build on the rich cultural exchanges that Marco Polo embodied.