The Italian Cultural Institute in Mumbai is pleased to announce the exhibition featuring the works of Indian artist Priya Pereira, whose distinctive artist’s books enter into dialogue with the historic collections of the Biblioteca Riccardiana in Florence, with the support of the Embassy of India in Italy.
Bringing together contemporary artistic expression and centuries-old manuscripts, illuminated miniatures and early printed books, the exhibition highlights a connection between works created in different places and periods, united by their shared emphasis on uniqueness, craftsmanship and the materiality of the book.
Pereira’s artist’s books challenge the traditional structure of the book through the use of handmade paper, acrylic, metal, mirrors, textiles, stones and natural fibres, inviting visitors to experience the book not simply as a vehicle for written knowledge, but as an object of artistic and visual expression.
The works are presented alongside treasures from the Riccardiana collections, revealing unexpected connections between forms, symbols and materials. References to spirituality, love, time, alphabets and the historic exchange of knowledge between East and West evoke the ancient routes of the Silk Road and the cultural encounters that contributed to the intellectual and artistic vitality of the Italian Renaissance.
The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to discover new perspectives on the enduring relationship between books, art and knowledge, while celebrating the creative dialogue between contemporary India and Italy.
September 24, 2026 – January 8, 2027 | Biblioteca Riccardiana, Florence
Opening: September 24, 2026, at 4:00 PM
Welcome remarks
• Roberta Masini – Director of the Biblioteca Riccardiana, Florence
Speakers
• Laura Paraggio, art historian
• David Speranzi, University of Florence
• Priya Pereira, artist
Free admission (subject to availability); entrance at Via de’ Ginori, 10.
The exhibition is open during library hours:
Monday and Thursday: 8:15 AM – 5:15 PM
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday: 8:15 AM – 1:45 PM
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
