Guerre Stellari – Play, Genoa from 9 March to 15 October 2017

After the great success at the Complesso del Vittoriano - Ala Brasini in Rome, comes to the Magazzini del Cotone of the Porto Antico in Genoa - in a richer and more interactive version - the exhibition on the fascinating universe of Guerre  Stellari  –  Play, a true legend that has charmed three generations from 1977 to today.

From 9 march to 16 july 2017 over 1000 pieces including models, action figures and vintage prints – some on display in Italy for the first time – give visitors a chance to explore the most unforgettable scenes and characters from a world that still fascinates and thrills fans around the globe.

40 years after the first showing of the first film of the Saga (which anniversary will be celebrated in May 2017), confirms the mediatic relevance of a phenomenon that has become an important part of the global popular culture worldwide, of which this exhibition is one of many facets, unique exposition to narrate the film through merchandising.

Guerre Stellari – Play. La mostra sulla saga che ha sedotto tre generazioni focuses on an aspect  of  the  legendary  story  related  to  toys,  using  a  selection  drawn  from  the  endless merchandise produced by Kenner (now Hasbro) – back to 1977 – and offered to the public's eye by Fabrizio Modina, curator of the exhibition and one of the world's leading collectors of science fiction toys.
The classic toys are displayed alongside extremely rare vintage collectibles – life-size costumes, accessories, helmets and weapons – that recreate with true-to-life stage presence that universe of values and stereotypes that have reached beyond the silver screen to become universal icons.

Visitors will experience a magical encounter with full-scale reproductions of Darth Vader, the Stormtroopers and even Master Yoda: face to face with their imposing presence, the public will experience this fantastic world in real life, bringing into three dimensions the flat images of the big screen that inspired such passionate responses.

To make the exhibition a more exciting experience a varied educational program has been developed with thematic focuses for different age groups. The scenarios and the most famous landscapes of the Saga provide the opportunity to talk about galaxies, stars and solar systems. Space exploration is also examined from the first orbital flights to the moon landings. The analysis of the most technologically advanced elements such as satellites and space stations, which have always triggered wonder and fascination, will be of great interest as the "generations" of existing and working robots on our planet.

Encased  within  the  magical  Ligurian  coast,  the  Magazzini  del  Cotone  are  one  of  the  main structures in the Porto Antico of Genova.
The Guerre Stellari – Play exhibition, with the aquarium, the Bigo panoramic elevator, the museums, the Biosfera with its tropical forest, La città dei bambini e dei ragazzi, movie theatres and libraries – increases the cultural and entertainment appeal of the location representing a new way of examining the intergenerational saga.   The science fiction masterpiece on every level enters in full right into the realm of pop art that has great cultural impact.

Under the patronage of Comune di Genova and from an idea of Kornice, the Guerre Stellari – Play.  La  mostra  sulla  saga  che  ha  sedotto  tre  generazioni    exhibition  is  produced  and organised by Gruppo Arthemisia.

It is curated by Fabrizio Modina, sponsored by Generali Italia and with Il SecoloXIX and Radio Babboleo as media partners.

THE EXHIBITION
Born out of George Lucas's visionary project, the Star Wars saga will be on display, in a cinematic itinerary that reconstructs the events of the extraordinary trilogy through noteworthy scenes. The exhibition recreates a concrete, plausible universe where everything – from characters to vehicles and locations – exists under a layer of realism that succeeds in lending depth to the characters.

THE SECTIONS OF THE EXHIBITION
A re-working of the Saga and its characters begins with the Vintage toys – produced by Kenner – which have become cult items for collectors for the intrinsic value of the unique and rare pieces. This section is dedicated to toys made during the time of the original saga (1978-1985). These are now lost-and-found treasures, rare objects that bear witness to an amazing and unsophisticated era,  so  alien  in  their  ingenious  simplicity  that  they  seem  to  have  come  from  some  distant, pleasantly friendly galaxy.

From the analysis of the Concept that led to the creation of the characters, the costumes and vehicles that would become universal icons, the exhibition route winds its way along the time line of the Star Wars universe, from The Phantom Menace, known as Episode I, to the recent The Force Awakens, the seventh chapter, including the interconnecting animated series, The Clone Wars and Rebels, using toys and collectible models to reconstruct important scenes from the entire story, still images with actors in plastic and metal who have invaded the planet since the beginning of their production in 1995.
Undeniably the great success of the Saga is due to the futuristic design, a world apart from any classical cliché, inspired by the architecture and everyday items of the movies of the thirties and Japanese culture.

Icons represents the main characters of the Saga, presented as elaborate and sophisticated dolls - also the very expensive dolls of the Sideshow -, heroes and antiheros with complex and detailed facets.

As a tribute to the recently deceased Carrie Fisher, the Icons  section has been expanded with a corner dedicated to Princess Leia, key figure for female emancipation in film, first independent and authoritarian heroine in Hollywood history.

The other sections are Spade (Swords), Saga, Expanded Universe and Costumi Life-Size (Life Size Costumes). Swords that make us talk about photons and quanta; action figures which make us evoke all of the moments of great suspense of the episodes of the Saga; all the planets of the Star Wars universe and trend merchandising.

Face to face encounters with heroes such as Yoda e Han Solo, icons like the Stormtroopers and the most beloved villain in the history of film, Darth Vader.

Lastly, in the Space Ships section the public can explore the research conducted by the Lucas team to project the plausible technology of his universe.
The common points between the real and invented technology are highlighted through numeric comparisons and by the presenting common technology to both worlds such as the solar veil. Through a simple technical demonstration of magnetic levitation one will understand the operating principles of this technology.

Guerre Stellari – Play represents a new way to interpret the universe connected with the film, a fairy tale for everyone with its simple, unevolved content, inspired by the past and inspirational to the future; a "creature" shaped by so many artists who left their mark by expressing that sense of the fantastical – which we absolutely must not lose sight of – through an ongoing creative dialogue that began with merchandise, only to rise to the level of visual art.

CO-MARKETING ACQUARIO DI GENOVA - "GUERRE STELLARI - PLAY" EXHIBITION
By keeping the entrance ticket to the Acquario di Genova or to Galata Museo del Mare and presenting it at the ticket desk of the Guerre Stellari - Play exhibition, one will be entitled to admission with a reduced fare.
Viceversa, by keeping the entrance ticket to the Guerre Stellari - Play exhibition and presenting it at the ticket desk of the Acquario di Genova or of the Galata Museo del Mare, one will be entitled to admission with a reduced fare.
The reductions are not combinable. The promotion is valid for the duration of the exhibition (March 9 to July 16, 2017).