Exhibition entitled "Venice and Suzhou: Two Water Cities along the Silk Road"

The official launch the virtual exhibition "Venice and Suzhou: Two Water Cities along the Silk Road" and its accompanying digital catalogue (available through Open Access) took place on 30 September 2022 during the annual Italian university event known as Venetonight, when researchers throw open the university’s doors to share their work with the general public. 

The concept for the exhibition was initiated and proposed by the Ca' Foscari University of Venice and Soochow University, with the support of Venice IUAV University and the School of Art, Design, and Media of Nanyang Technological University.  

Soochow University is a key strategic partner of the Ca' Foscari University. In February 2017, Ca' Foscari University established its first international office in Suzhou on Soochow University’s campus to strengthen their collaboration. Currently, the two universities are collaborating in several academic and research fields, including cultural heritage, business administration, and environmental science, with a specific focus on water resources management.  

This exhibition focuses on Venice and Suzhou, two water cities that are linked by their centuries-old experience in water management. It explores the past, present, and future of these two cities, which have a unique geographical environment that results from the harmonious balance between nature and human intervention. Located along the Silk Road, they illustrate the significance of water transportation in facilitating cultural exchange. The water landscapes of these cities have evolved through effective water management, but both Venice and Suzhou face challenges such as protecting cultural heritage, promoting sustainable ecotourism, and recycling pollutants, to maximize the potential of their water routes. Each project undertaken by the two universities aims to connect their research with society and cultivate global citizens and scholars.  

The year 2020 marked 40 years of friendship between Venice and Suzhou, as well as the 50th anniversary of China-Italy diplomatic relations. The virtual exhibition was initially planned to be launched in the autumn of 2020 but was postponed to 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Its initial goal was to serve as a conclusion to the China-Italy Year of Culture and Tourism. Given the ongoing pandemic situation, the exhibition was held online in a virtual form. With the help of curators, the research team responsible for the exhibition utilized advanced technology to create a virtual environment connected to the Venice exhibition hall, offering a fully immersive experience for the public. 

In addition to the exhibition, a comprehensive digital catalogue has been created that includes numerous theses written by participating scholars, as well as explanations of the exhibits and numerous photographs. This content will serve as a cross-disciplinary research platform aimed at promoting the Maritime Silk Road that connected Venice to Afro-Eurasia and fostering dialogue in history, culture, and economics worldwide.