publications

The interiors of Art Nouveau period: Research, Reflect, Restore, Reuse - 2020
Proceedings of Symposiums

On the occasion of RANN’s 20th anniversary, urban.brussels, a founding member of RANN, hosted an international symposium in Brussels on 29 & 30 November, co-organised with RANN, in partnership with the Horta Museum and the CIVA, and dedicated to the theme “The interiors of the Art Nouveau period interiors: analyse, restore, make accessible”.

The research and progress of our knowledge of Art Nouveau has always been one of RANN’s primary objectives. If Art Nouveau is accessible to everyone in the street itself and while the Art Nouveau facades are the ornament of many European cities, the interiors arouse both from the academic world as from the general public many questions related to their accessibility, to their knowledge, to the refined restorations that they require.

This subject of interiors had not yet been scientifically exploited in a transversal manner in Europe; the aim of this colloquium was to provoke a confrontation on research practices, understanding, conservation and enhancement of Art Nouveau interiors, in order to identify new research perspectives.

 

Art Nouveau & Ecology, Miscellany - 2015
Proceedings of Symposiums

From 2010 to 2015, the Network focused on the theme of “Art Nouveau and Ecology”, within the framework of a new project sponsored by the European Commission’s Culture Programme. The aim behind the project was to return to the origins of the movement, whilst establishing its connections with the 21st century.
An international symposium entitled “The Perception of Art Nouveau”, which was held in Brussels in 2010, provided a frame of reference for these five years of work. “The Nature of Art Nouveau”, a touring exhibition featuring images reflecting the wealth of the Network partners’ heritage, travelled to some fifteen different cities. In addition to these events, five historical laboratories were established to carry out research into the links between Art Nouveau and nature. In collaboration with environmental specialists, the participants also studied Art Nouveau artists within the context of their natural environment. This publication, which presents a selection of texts from different conferences, serves as a conclusion to a project rich in exchanges and events. Of interest to specialists and the general public alike, its programme of activities has helped to preserve and emphasise the cultural value and European dimension of this legacy, so precious to us all !

Art Nouveau in Progress, Colloquium, Wien - 2002
Proceedings of Symposiums

24-25, October 2002
Centered on the same theme as the exhibition “Art Nouveau in Progress”, this international colloquium examined the ways in which the Art Nouveau heritage has been promoted throughout the 20th century. It retraces the history of its gradual rediscovery and emphasizes the current problems involved in its preservation and presentation. A wide range of European examples will serves to illustrate the fate of this heritage, which is still in jeopardy or currently benefitting from processes of restoration and transformation.

Series of activity sheets, 2003-2006 -
Educational publications

Made for teachers and guides, this guide shows a series of ideas, exercises and games to enable a coherent and original discovery of Art nouveau. Interactive visits are proposed to discover Art Nouveau at the level of individual objects, collections, museums, a building or a neighbourhood. Stimulating the sense was a prime objective; the proposed exercises were created to require only minimal preparation or materials. Thus they are accessible to every teacher or guide who wants to work interactively! Educators and guides can use the ideas that are generated by this tool for example during other heritage or arts projects that involve young people.

Newspaper 2 - 2004
Educational publications

Aimed at the lower classes of secondary/comprehensive school, it contains articles on each partner city. Each page – richly illustrated – describes the individual context in which Art Nouveau appeared in each partner city; specific examples of Art Nouveau and definitions on heritage vocabulary. In sympathy with European diversity, texts are written in the native language of each partner, and accompanied by a translation of the all the partner’s languages. For example, in the French version – distributed in Brussels and Nancy – all the French text will be doubled with an English text for Glasgow, a Finnish text for Helsinki, an Italian text for Varese etc.

Newspaper 1 - 2003
Educational publications

Aimed at the upper classes of secondary/comprehensive school, it contains articles on each partner city. Each page – richly illustrated – describes the individual context in which Art Nouveau appeared in each partner city; specific examples of Art Nouveau and other interesting information. In sympathy with European diversity, texts are written in the native language of each partner, and accompanied by a translation of the all the partner’s languages. For example, in the French version – distributed in Brussels and Nancy – all the French text will be doubled with an English text for Glasgow, a Finnish text for Helsinki, an Italian text for Varese etc.

Art Nouveau in Progress, exhibitions leaflet for children - 2003
Exhibition Catalogues

Small publication dedicated to children to accompany the travelling exhibition “Art Nouveau in Progress”. The recto presents a short story linked to the Art Nouveau heritage in each partner city. The verso is a long poster which summarises the diversity of the Network.

Activity Book - 2003
Educational publications

Designed for children in primary school (age range from 6 years upwards), with basic reading skills, this sketchbook offers a set of exercises and games, based on Art Nouveau objects, furniture and buildings. The publication also includes overview of the movement, the Network and European projects. It concludes with a European map locating the partner’s cities. The body of the publication focuses on the visual representation of Art Nouveau, using a game or an exercise to illustrate each partner city. Each city chose an appropriate example of art, craft or architecture for their pages. The publication is available in 11 languages and is printed in five versions, each in three languages!

Flora Book - 2004
Educational publications

Designed for children at junior primary school (age range from 9 years upwards), with good reading skills, this book offers short stories on the role of Flora in Art Nouveau decoration as well as a basic lesson on flower and plant names.The publication also includes an overview of the movement, the Network, European projects and two activities: How do you make a flower press? How do you make a frieze? It concludes with a European map locating the partner’s cities.
The body of the publication focuses on the visual representation of Art Nouveau, using a plant and Art Nouveau designs to illustrate each partner city. Each city chose an appropriate example of art, craft or architecture for their pages. The publication is available in 11 languages and is printed in five versions, each in three languages!

Night Book - 2006
Educational publications

Designed for children in primary school (age range from 8 years upwards), with basic reading skills, this activity book offers short stories on the role of dream and nightmare creatures in Art Nouveau, as well as a set of exercises and games, based on Art Nouveau objects, furniture and buildings. The publication also includes an overview of the Network and European projects. It concludes with a European map locating the partner’s cities.
The body of the publication focuses on the visual representation of Art Nouveau, using an exercise to illustrate each partner city. Each city chose an appropriate example of art, craft or architecture for their pages.