Eike Schmidt on the Future of the Uffizi and Art

Eike Schmidt, director of the Uffizi Galleries in Florence since 2015, discusses his vision for the museum and the role of art in a rapidly changing world. He highlights the recent expansion of the Uffizi, which tripled exhibition space and allowed 40% of works from storage to be displayed. Working with architect Antonio Godoli, Schmidt designed fully transparent display cases to enhance protection and visitor proximity. He emphasizes the importance of integrating historical art with contemporary perspectives, treating the collection like a contemporary art group show. Schmidt reflects on the concept of Genius Loci, seeing it as both local and planetary. He believes past, present, and future coexist, making historical works relevant today. On technology, he notes that new tools will reshape perception and thought, similar to how smartphone cameras changed behavior. He stresses the need for museums to engage a global audience through digital and physical exchange, and warns of generational divides due to declining birth rates in industrialized countries. Schmidt advises young people to follow their fascinations, keep an open mind, and travel.