MUDEC's 'Exposure' Explores the Display Case as Museum Archetype

The MUDEC in Milan presents 'Exposure,' a group exhibition curated by Katya Inozemtseva and Sara Rizzo that examines the display case as a fundamental museum device. The show argues that vitrines, like frames for paintings and pedestals for sculptures, function as attention-focusing tools, whether in museums or commercial spaces. It distinguishes between museum displays, characterized by slowness and conservation, and shop displays, based on speed and turnover. Artists include Gene Moore (Tiffany window designer), Roberto Sambonet (Rinascente displays), Mark Dion, Damien Hirst (a cabinet with cigarette butts), and Candida Höfer (museum interior photos). Two new works were created: Theo Eshetu's 'Crocodile on a ceiling,' referencing Wunderkammern origins, and Monia Ben Hamouda's installation on the separation of exhibition from daily life. Instead of a catalog, the exhibition is accompanied by the second issue of 'MUDEC United' magazine, directed by Carlo Antonelli, which extends the show's themes. Museum director Marina Pugliese chose the magazine format over a traditional catalog. The previous exhibition and first issue focused on rainbow cultures, tied to a reprint of 'The Rainbow Book' (1975).