"Dialogue in the dark" is an exhibition path to discover the unseen.
"Dialogue in the dark" arrives in Turin for the
Cultural Olympiad Torino 2006 for a very special edition.
Moncalieri (TO), Limone Fonderie Teatrali, via Pastrengo 88
february 23 – april 15, 2006
Content:
"Dialogue in the dark" is an exhibition path where you don’t
see anything. In total darkness you will experience an adventure to see and understand
things with other eyes.
"Dialogue" is an encounter with a blind person, who leads your steps
and awakens the deep need of communication.
After you leave, nothing will ever be the same again.
To know more:
For years now, "Dialogue in the dark" has been touring all over the world and is leaving a deep and lasting impression with young and old people alike. What is it, that tempts people in Milan, Paris, London, Vienna, Tokio, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, Hamburg or Frankfurt to discover the invisible and let themselves be guided by blind people through an exhibition without pictures?
Let us take a look into darkness. Darkness is not the real life situation of blind people, and it would be over-simplification to assume that "Dialogue in the dark" can simulate blindness. Darkness is a metaphor and stands for marginalization and discrimination, to which disabled people are still being subjected. To be disabled means primarily being defined by your deficits and not having the same chances as people without a disability. Darkness however, also stands for the fears within us. However, darkness, as 18 years of "Dialogue in the dark" have taught us, can also be a marvellous medium for communication and encounter. A place without beautiful appearances, where prejudice and the quick once-over are impossible, it is the voice and the contents that count, just like intuition and readiness to help. Only he who talks, exists. People who are silent disappear in the impenetrable darkness.
This is the reason why in "Dialogue in the dark" the focus is on the Dialogue and not on the experience in the dark; the dialogue with oneself, with the others who have joined in this journey through the dark, and the dialogue with disabled people. Just switch off the light and the blind are blind no longer, and we sighted, are blind and helpless.
Why do people embark upon such an experience? Firstly, without doubt, to experience oneself in a new way. But also, because we are tired of the never-ending barrage of pictures and images with which we are confronted every day. And so the question remains, which senses and perceptions slumber inside us. And here the Japanese are no different from the Mexicans, and the Italians do not differ from the Germans.
Andreas Heinecke, author of "Dialogue in the dark"
Since starting in Frankfurt in 1988, "Dialogue in the dark" has run in 100 cities in 17 countries, so far including Europe, Canada, Israel, Mexico, Japan and Brazil. Over 4 million people let themselves be guided through the dark by more than 4,000 blind guides, to discover realistically designed environments with other eyes.
Every exhibition is based on the same concept: visitors, immersed in a new and destabilizing situation, learn to see in a different way. Nevertheless, every edition differs in its dimensions, sets, duration and cultural pattern behind the exhibition. Over the years, "Dialogue" has been both a few-day event with one dark set, the bar, and for longer exhibitions created to stay for months or even years, a longer path with many scenarios such as a park, a city, a boat, a market, a sound room, always ending in the dark bar, like in Hamburg, Holon (vicino a Tel Aviv), Frankfurt, Milan, Denmark, Vienna and very soon in London.
In Italy, with the special edition for the Cultural Olympiad Torino 2006, "Dialogo nel buio" is being presented for the sixth time, after Rome, EUR (1997); Milan, Palazzo Reale (2002-2003); Rovereto (Trento), MART (2003-2004); San Giorgio Piacentino (Piacenza), Castello (2005) and again Milan, Istituto dei Ciechi (open since December 2005).
"The only way to learn is through an encounter": so wrote the
German philosopher Martin Buber.
This idea has inspired the more than twenty years of activity for Andreas Heinecke,
who has been creating platforms where people can meet and communicate. A Ph. D.
about Jewiness and identity and many years experience as a journalist and documentary
writer are the background of his work. He has been committed to integrating marginalised
people into the active social pattern, enhancing exactly the qualities related
to their diversity, apparently the reason of their exclusion.
With this aim, he created concepts like "Dialogue in the dark" and
"Scenes
of silence", where blind guides in the first exhibition and deaf guides
in the second, lead visitors with confidence and talent to discover a way to see
beyond images and a way to communicate beyond words.
Darkness and silence become media for communication, diversity turns into a chance
to enrich our lives.
Visitors are forced to interact in a situation which is beyond stereotypes, prejudices
and fears, out of their routine, in a state of de-equilibrium, where the disable
person becomes the "able" one, inspiring surprise, respect and understanding.
Andreas Heinecke’s commitment has been recently recognised by the American
Foundation Ashoka,
who have named him among their Senior Fellows– the first Social Entrepreneur
in Western Europe.
Directory (DOC, 40 KB) of "Dialogue in the dark" editions.
Moncalieri (TO), Limone Fonderie Teatrali, via Pastrengo 88
february 23 – april 15, 2006
"Dialogue in the dark", a project conceived by Andreas Heinecke, arrives in Turin for the Cultural Olympiad Torino 2006 for a very special edition, dedicated to the Olympic Games, winter and snow.
Small groups of visitors are led by blind guides through totally darkened rooms. Winter sports and social activities can be tried and experienced: a walk through a snowy landscape, a visit to an icy city, an exciting ride with a bobsleigh and a cup of hot chocolate in a cosy bar.
In the dark everything is brought to life through smells, sounds, textures,
temperature and the wind.
"Dialogue in the dark" is an opportunity to learn to see the winter
with other eyes.
(from february 23 to march 12)
Tuesday to Saturday 10.00 – 18.30
Sunday 10.00 – 14.00 and 18.30 – 23.30
Monday Closed
(from march 13 to march 31)
Tuesday 10.00 – 18.30
Wednesday to Saturday 10.00 – 18.30 and 20.30 –
23.30
Sunday 12.00 – 23.30
Monday Closed
(from april 1 to april 15)
Tuesday - Friday
10.00 – 14.00 (only with reservation)
and 19.00 – 23.30
Saturday 10.00 – 23.30
Sunday 12.00 – 23.30
"Dialogue in the dark" can only be visited accompanied by one of
our blind guides, who leads groups of maximum 8 people. Therefore it is recommended
to book in advance.
Booking is compulsory for schools, groups, people with special needs and for visits
not in Italian.
Tours start every 15 minutes and last approx. one hour.
Full price € 9
Concessions € 7
Under 18, Over 60, Students under 25, Groups of more than 15 people
Schools (teachers free entrance, max 2 per class) € 4
Children under 6 years Free
Reserved tickets must be collected no later than 30 minutes before the tour starts. After this deadline, we cannot guarantee the reservation.
We advise warm and comfortable clothes.
Booking is recommended and compulsory for schools, groups, people with special
needs and for visits not in Italian.
Bookin is easy!
Just call the Free phone number 800 25 08 11
Due to an unforeseen technical problem, please be advised that our Internet booking
service is temporary cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience might caused.
Important
The exhibition is accessible for all, but please tell us your needs before
making your reservation by using the numbers above.
Reserved tickets must be collected no later than 30 minutes before the tour starts.
After this deadline, we cannot guarantee the reservation..
By car
A4 Torino-Milano, A6 Torino-Savona , Autostrada del Frejus exit tangenziale sud
Moncalieri
MAP>>> http://mappe.virgilio.it/
Via Pastrengo, 88 - Moncalieri
By bus
bus n.45 (Torino Piazza Marconi - Moncalieri - Santena)
bus n.40 (Torino Mirafiori - Moncalieri)
bus n.70 (Torino Piazza Vittorio - Collina - Moncalieri/Borgo Aje)
bus n.39 (Torino Mirafiori - Nichelino – Moncalieri)
bus n.81 (Train Station/bus Moncalieri downtown – Via Pastrengo 88)
Info: www.comune.torino.it/gtt/en
Free phone number GTT Gruppo Trasporti Torino 800 019 152
By train
From Torino Porta Nuova
Info: www.trenitalia.it
and free phone number 848 88 80 88
Moncalieri Stazione FS (0039) 011 642539
By taxi
tel. (0039) 011 642100
Dialogue in the dark is one of the Cultural Olympiad events promoted for the occasion of the XX Winter Olympic Games Torino 2006.
Organised by
Consens
with the Unione Italiana dei Ciechi, Sezione Provinciale di Torino
With the contribution of
Fondazione CRT
With the Patronage of
City of Moncalieri
In collaboration with
Fondazione Teatro Stabile di Torino
Dialogue in the dark would like to thank Progetto Italia, Red Cell, Mercurio Cinematografica, Studio Cordini, CPD, Consulta per le Persone in Difficoltà and Mr. Guido Gobino for the hot chocolate.
Concept
Andreas Heinecke
Project manager
Laura Gorni
Graphic design
Carlo Muttoni
Architecture and construction
Hans Meister, Juan Manuel Garibay, Chiara Jane Pastore
Master guides
Antonio Organtini – Daniela Dimitrova
Assistants
Luigi Torello Viera – Sandra Ortiz
Web design
G2 Baraniak
Press office
Chiara Ferrero
Press information
Phone (0039) 02 76 11 30 13
Consuelo (0039) 348 265 35 38
Chiara (0039) 347 912 47 19
E-mail: stampa@dialogo-nel-buio.it
Dialogo nel buio
Moncalieri (TO), Limone Fonderie Teatrali, via Pastrengo 88
february 23 – march 31, 2006
E-mail: info@dialogo-nel-buio.it