Inauguration in Beirut of the exhibition Mediterranea: Visions of an Ancient and Complex Sea

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Jun 2023

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A project by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in collaboration with ASI, Telespazio e-Geos, MedOr Foundation and ESA.
The exhibition "Mediterranea: Visions of an Ancient and Complex Sea" was launched on June 23rd, at the Nabu Museum in El-Heri, Lebanon, in the presence of the Italian Ambassador Nicoletta Bombardiere and Lebanese authorities.
The initiative is promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Telespazio, MedOr Foundation (part of the Leonardo Group), e-GEOS (Telespazio/ASI), and the European Space Agency (ESA). It is part of Italy's integrated promotion action abroad.
Curated by Viviana Panaccia, the exhibition tells the story of the Mediterranean, its natural heritage, populations, myths, as well as the current challenges it faces. The exhibition offers visitors a comprehensive journey through the complexity of the Mediterranean, featuring unprecedented satellite images, photos, videos, and site-specific installations. The aim is to create a synthesis between science and art, past and present.
As highlighted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, in the exhibition's preface, "the 'Mare Nostrum' is the cradle of civilization and a crossroads of major commercial flows, a space for dialogue, interaction and cultural exchange among the countries and populations that live on it shores, as proven by the over 300 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Today, it is also one of the most vulnerable regions due to global challenges such as climate change, food security, conflicts, and refugee crises. The Government, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the forefront, is committed to promoting partnerships with Mediterranean partner countries, offering the knowledge and expertise of all components of the Italian System, and enhancing our excellent production chains to strengthen both connectivity and sustainable development."
The exhibition presents images captured by the Italian COSMO-SkyMed satellite constellation and the Sentinel satellites of the European Copernicus constellation. It offers suggestive visions of the Mediterranean, from ancient seaport cities to mythical islands, from typical olive and wheat cultivations to the efforts in North African territories to reclaim desert areas for agriculture.
Data and images bear witness to clear signs of ongoing climate change, global warming, reduced precipitation, and excessive heatwaves with long periods of drought alternating with extreme rainfall, as well as the alteration of marine habitats.
Through monitoring capabilities acquired and refined by satellite technology, as well as the development of new predictive capacities, we can assist all institutions in protecting, preserving and effectively enhancing all those places rich in history and culture, such as the countries in the Mediterranean region", said Telespazio CEO Luigi Pasquali. "We are enthusiastic about the work carried out with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ASI, and we hope that our close collaboration will also be useful in the future to raise awareness of space technologies and their enormous possibilities."
As recalled by Professor Teodoro Valente, President of ASI, “The synthesis is in its name, Mediterranea”. This exhibition tells us the story, evolution, and state of health of our sea and its surrounding environment. It is a splendid combination of artistic expression and technology, which also testifies to both past and future life, integrating the ancient places with their history and the future of space activities. Thanks to the keen eye of the COSMO-SkyMed constellation, the Italian Space Agency has made it possible to visualize this delicate environment in detail. The satellites have captured spectacular and even artistic images of the Mediterranean basin, with a great emotional impact."
The MedOr Foundation, as part of its mission to foster dialogue and cooperation in the Mediterranean region, has also enthusiastically joined the organization of the exhibition as a suggestive insight into the historical and environmental evolution of the Mediterranean countries, capable of creating synergies between different realities.
The exhibition will remain open to the public until July 23rd, and will then continue its international tour in Algiers and other countries in the Mediterranean area with the support of the diplomatic-consular network and the Italian Cultural Institutes.
It will be an opportunity to promote dialogue and cooperation between the different populations who inhabit the region, stimulating a profound reflection on this Great Sea that contributes to starting sustainable development in all the lands along its shores.