Images of a Lost World. Fr. Alberto Maria De Agostini (1883- 1960): Man, Nature, Art Science

TEMPORARY EXHIBITION

From October 24 to December 24, 2023, Casa Don Bosco Museum will host the traveling temporary exhibition entitled Images of a Lost World. Fr. Alberto Maria De Agostini (1883-1960): Man, Nature, Art, Science. The Exhibition was curated by the Salesian Historical Institute in Rome.

The opening ceremonies take place on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at the Don Bosco Hall in Valdocco (beside the Museum). It will include two moments: the presentation of the volume entitled Fr. Alberto Maria De Agostini, the Last Explorer of the End of the World (Rome: LAS, 2023) edited by Francesco Motto, and the inauguration of the temporary exhibition entitled Images of a Lost World. Fr. Alberto De Agostini. Man, Nature, Art, Science.

All are welcome. Admission is free.

The exhibition presents the figure of Fr. Alberto Maria De Agostini (Pollone Nov. 2, 1883-Turin Dec. 25, 1960) a salesian, priest, missionary, explorer, mountaineer, geographer cartographer and photographer who was already the focus of an international study conference held at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome (April 25-27, 2022) curated by the Salesian Historical Institute in collaboration with an international scientific committee.

Download the poster

October 24 to December 24, 2023.

INAUGURATION CEREMONY.

The inaugural event begins at 3:30 p.m. with the presentation of the volume coordinated by the promoter of the conference on De Agostini, Prof. Nicola Bottiglieri of the University of Cassino. Master of Ceremonies will be by Fr. Mike Pace, Casa Don Bosco Museum Visit Coordinator. Greetings will follow from His Worship, Mr. Sandro Bonino, Mayor of Pollone (Biella), Prof. Silvano Oni of the Salesian University of Turin-UPS, Dr. Daniela Berta, Director of the “Duca degli Abruzzi” Club Alpino Italiano National Mountain Museum of Turin, and Mr. Giuliano Maresi, mountaineer and instructor of the”Ragni di Lecco” School of Rock Climbing. In attendance will be the curator of the conference and volume, Prof. Francesco Motto, and Dr. Ana Martín García, General Coordinator of the Casa Don Bosco Museum.

The ribbon cutting ceremony takes place at 5 p.m. by Don Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians and neocardinal.

THE EXHIBITION.

The exhibition’s time frame, Oct. 24 to Dec. 24, 2023, coincides with four related events: the anniversary of the first Salesian missionary expedition to Patagonia (Nov. 11, 1875); the 2023-2024 Salesian Missionary Animation’s Missionary Journey (starting Oct. 29, 2023); the launching of a series of international initiatives in preparation for the 150th anniversary of Salesian missions (2025); the 63rd anniversary of Fr. De Agostini’s death.

The exhibit explores themes related to the eventful life of Albert Maria de Agostini as a:

  • salesian and priest
  • missionary and anthropologist
  • explorer
  • geographer and scientist
  • photographer
  • filmmaker and pioneer
  • writer and communicator

Other themes include his literary imagination and the collective unconscious, and how he pairs his twin passions, Patagonia and his native Piedmont.

A TEMPORARY TRAVELING EXHIBITION

This is a traveling exhibition. It was unveiled at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome (April 25, 2022) as part of an international study conference. It then moved to the University of Padua where it was displayed during the CUIA conference (Nov. 17-18, 2022). After Casa Don Bosco it will proceed to the Italian Geographical Society Headquarters in Rome (January-February 2024) and conclude in Lecco where it will be hosted by the “Ragni di Lecco” (March April 2024).

FILM SCREENING

An event related to the exhibition is the screening of the film, Terre Magellaniche (100′ – 1933) by Don Alberto Maria De Agostini on Saturday October 28 at 5:00 p.m. at Don Bosco Hall in Valdocco (beside the Museum). The film will be presented by Dr. Ana Martín García, General Coordinator of the Casa Don Bosco Museum. All are welcome. Admission is free.

HOURS

Monday: closed
Tuesday and Thursday: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday and Friday: 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. / 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.