Paraventi

A stunning showcase of elegant folding screens from the 17th to 21st centuries

This volume gathers an exceptional selection of decorative folding screens, exploring the history and semantics of the form by tracing trajectories of cross-pollination between East and West. At their core, folding screens embody liminality and the idea of sitting at the threshold of two conditions, both literally and metaphorically. They cross barriers between different spaces, disciplines, cultures and worlds. Taking that notion as a starting place, this volume follows processes of hybridization between different art forms and functions, collaborative relationships between designers and artists, and the emergence of newly created works.
This gorgeous catalog features more than 70 examples of folding screens, including valuable historical objects and more recent works from international museums and private collections, plus a selection of new creations commissioned from more than 15 international artists specifically for this project.