Museum of Cultures, Ethnographic museum in Castagnola, Switzerland.
The Museum of Cultures occupies Villa Malpensata and displays collections of ethnographic works, oriental objects, and historical photographs across several exhibition spaces. The rooms present pieces from different parts of Asia and the Pacific region side by side.
The institution was founded in 1989 based on Serge Brignoni's collection of artworks from the Far East, India, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. This created a place to make these works publicly accessible.
The collections reflect how different societies express their traditions through art and craft, offering visitors insight into the values embedded in objects from across the world. Walking through the rooms, you encounter handmade pieces that show the skills and aesthetic choices of people from varied backgrounds.
The museum is open from Wednesday through Monday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with different areas offering various ways to experience the collection. Some sections like Spazio Tesoro provide free access, giving visitors flexible options.
The museum preserves a digitized collection of hand-painted Japanese photographs from the 1800s, a technique rarely found elsewhere. These images showcase artistic methods that are seldom practiced today.
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