By Elena Bormotova: The International Italian Language Week in Belarus has opened in the National Library with an exhibition of rare books brought to Minsk by Director of the Sartirana Art Foundation Giorgio Forni. This year, the activities within the Italian week have been timed to coincide with Italy's presidency of the EU Council.
Books as art objects are being exhibited in Minsk for the first time, and this is the first time the whole collection has left Italy. Single exhibits were previously displayed at the Cairo Museum. It is planned to bring the exhibition to Central and North America.
The collection has been assembled for 20 years as an antipode to mass large-circulation literature. Every single book is the result of collaboration between artists, graphic artists, designers and publishers. The collection's permanent residence is the Sartirana Castle.
The Belarusian-Italian cultural program will culminate in late 2014 - early 2015 with an exhibition of Renaissance masterpieces, which will arrive in the National Art Museum from Umbria, Perugia. The countries are also planning to launch joint projects between the Bolshoi Theatre and the leading opera houses of the Apennine peninsula.
