In the heart of Rome, within the museum complex of VIVE – Vittoriano and Palazzo Venezia – “Guglielmo Marconi. Seeing the Invisible” comes to life: an exhibition that, through curatorial narration, reveals the extraordinary legacy of the father of wireless communication.
The project is signed by Dario Curatolo, architect, designer, and graphic artist, whose work has always focused on shaping identities – for places, companies, and objects. The exhibition is organized into thematic sections, each delving into a specific aspect of Marconi’s life and achievements.
The exhibition concept revolves around two guiding metaphors: the frame, understood as a device that gathers and directs the gaze, and the island, which with others forms a symbolic archipelago – a way to express the many facets of Marconi’s character, all different but connected within a coherent system.
The two levels of the Sala Zanardelli at the Vittoriano host original documents, objects, and historical apparatuses. The layout incorporates wall panels set into existing niches, along with a series of display cases placed near the panels and along the central corridor. Multimedia elements enrich the path with a full sensory experience.
On the upper floor, the exhibition focuses on Marconi’s youth, his early experiments, his time in England, and the birth of broadcasting. Descending to the lower floor, the narrative shifts to Marconi’s public persona, his diplomatic and scientific roles on the international stage, culminating in the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1909.
The journey continues into the Sala Regia of Palazzo Venezia, where the setup transforms into an exhibition archipelago. Three large “islands” structure the sections dedicated to the inventor’s private and social life, his deep bond with the sea, and finally, his cultural legacy.
At the end of the exhibition, a visual and sound tunnel presents a multitude of vintage radios, playing the announcement of Marconi’s death, followed by a long silence – a tribute echoed by radio stations across the world at the time.
A fully mirrored room and a large videowall complete the experience, offering an immersive and evocative interpretation of the life and vision of a man who, quite literally, knew how to see the invisible.
For more info: www.studiodca.net
CREDITS
Project: allstimento mostra “Guglielmo Marconi. Vedere l’invisibile”.
Architect: Dario Curatolo architetto
Location: Roma, Italy
Year: 2025
