Senza titolo: A New Book Decodes Museum Label Strategies

The publication "Senza titolo. Le metafore della didascalia" (Nomos Edizioni, 2020) examines the often-overlooked role of museum labels. Edited by Maria Chiara Ciaccheri, Anna Chiara Cimoli, and Nicole Moolhuijsen, the book includes contributions from Monica Calcagno on the Fondazione Querini Stampalia in Venice as a case study, Enrico Giori on graphic design, and an interview by Maria Elena Colombo with James Bradburne. The volume stems from the formative project "Senza titolo" promoted by the Fondazione Querini Stampalia. It explores the tension between labels as fixed, authoritative texts and as tools for visitor engagement. Bradburne defines the label as "the sum of all intentional acts an institution uses to create meaning." The book analyzes how labels can include or exclude audiences, reflecting not only cultural but also political and economic choices. It highlights the gap between progressive museographic thinking and institutional practice. The authors argue that the public is the heart of the museum, and investment in labels is strategic. The book is 104 pages, priced at €14.50, ISBN 9788894811612.