Michelangelo Imaginary Interview Project Engages Art Students During Pandemic

An art history teacher at Liceo Artistico di Tempio di Pausania in Sardinia assigned students to write an imaginary interview with Michelangelo as a creative response to remote learning challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The teacher, Luana Aliano, who is also president of the SiciliAntica Siracusa cultural association, described how her students engaged deeply with Michelangelo's works, particularly the Pietà (1498) in St. Peter's Basilica. Students imagined questions about Michelangelo's sculptural process, his preference for sculpture over painting and architecture, and his philosophy of liberating the figure from the marble. The project aimed to maintain empathy and passion for art despite the difficulties of distance learning, including technical issues and lack of student engagement. Aliano emphasized that the success of remote teaching depends on adults guiding students and leaving a lasting impact. The article, published on Artribune, reflects on the broader challenges of DAD (didattica a distanza) in Italian schools and the potential for creative evaluation methods.