Together with Schallaburg Castle and the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, the focus will be on the Renaissance period in 2024. At Ambras Castle in Innsbruck, the Renaissance castle itself with its extensive collections will become an exhibition venue. In connection with the Year of the Renaissance, an additional highlight will be the special presentation of the restoration of the Ambras tiled stoves. The special exhibition 2024 Looking allowed? Human Diversity from the 16th to the 18th century focuses on the way people once dealt with otherness and therefore also provides valuable insights into discussions on diversity that are still relevant today.
Special exhibition 2024: Looking allowed? Human diversity from the 16th to 18th century
Diversity has always existed, even in the 16th century. As people became more and more the focus of attention at that time, interest in physical differences and different talents also increased.
Why did "The Portrait of a Disabled Man" find its way into the Ambras Chamber of Art and Curiosities? Who are the people behind the "hair family"? And why do the stories of "court giants" and "court dwarfs" amaze us?
Unusual illustrations, fascinating descriptions and scientific objects were once collected in the chambers of art to depict the entire world in miniature. Archduke Ferdinand II was already interested in diversity in society and presented different people and their stories in the rooms of Ambras Castle. Building on the Ambras collections, Schauen erlaubt? is dedicated to precisely this diversity.
Hair Man, Petrus Gonsalvus (born 1556), unknown painter, around 1580, oil on canvas © KHM-Museumsverband
On the one hand, this year's special exhibition at Schloss Ambras Innsbruck focuses on the approach to diversity at that time. On the other hand, contemporary perspectives enable a current reference to diversity. This encounter between the present and the past and their mutual appreciation enables a broad-based perception.
With the installation of an additional elevator in the museum, the upper floors of the Hochschloss now also provide barrier-free access to the rooms of the special exhibition. In addition to art and cultural-historical treasures, audio and video presentations will make it possible for visitors to experience the content in a variety of ways. In addition, this year's special exhibition will reduce further barriers with texts in understandable language, adapted font sizes and the placement of exhibition objects at different heights.
June 20 to October 6, 2024
www.schlossambras-innsbruck.at
Portrait of a disabled man, 2nd half of the 16th century, oil on canvas © KHM-Museumsverband
