Review: Five senses. A digital exhibition. Sensoriality, art and scenographic culture in the early modern period

Authors

  • María Del Carmen Conejo Arrabal Universidad de Málaga

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33732/ASRI.6888

Abstract

The review analyzes the digital exhibition Five Senses. Sensoriality, Art and Stage Culture in the Modern Age, developed within the I+D project led by Concepción Lopezosa and Carmen González-Román. This initiative offers a holistic approach to multisensoriality in festive celebrations from the 15th to 18th centuries, structured around five thematic paths—each dedicated to one of the senses: smell, taste, sight, touch, and hearing. The exhibition, created by the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, is complemented by a scientific catalog published by Tirant Lo Blanch. Each section explores how the senses shaped festive scenography, from the aromas of fireworks to the flavors of courtly banquets, the guided gaze in religious ceremonies, the spiritual dimension of touch in devotional art, and the soundscape of Iberian events. The digital format enables an interactive, non-linear experience using audiovisual resources, AI-generated animations, and audio descriptions, enhancing accessibility and experiential learning. The project stands out for its originality and ability to merge academic research with cultural outreach, offering a critical and engaging view of past scenographic culture. Despite the inherent limits of multisensory representation, the initiative successfully conveys the emotional and performative richness of historical celebrations.

Author Biography

María Del Carmen Conejo Arrabal, Universidad de Málaga

María del Carmen Conejo Arrabal holds a degree in Art History (University of Málaga), a Master's degree in Social Developments of Artistic Culture (University of Málaga), and a Master's degree in Teacher Training (University of Málaga). She also holds a Professional Expert Diploma in Advanced Technologies for the Management and Documentation of Cultural Heritage (National University of Distance Education, UNED). She is a doctoral candidate in the Advanced Studies in Humanities program, specializing in Art History (University of Málaga). Currently, she is a predoctoral researcher with a University Teaching Training (FPU) grant in the Department of Art History at the University of Málaga. She is part of the research team for the R&D project (PID2020-117415GB-I00) "Scenographic Culture in the Hispanic Context of the Modern Age: A Holistic Approach." Member of the Educational Innovation Project (PIE 19-109) #CriticadearteUMA (2019-2022) and of the Editorial Board of the university digital journal Apuntes de Arte. She has completed two research stays at the Università degli Studi di Torino (2023) and the Università degli Studi di Bergamo (2024) and has participated in various national and international scientific events.

Maria del Carmen

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Published

2025-12-31

How to Cite

Conejo Arrabal, M. D. C. (2025). Review: Five senses. A digital exhibition. Sensoriality, art and scenographic culture in the early modern period. ASRI. Art and Society. Journal for Research in Arts and Digital Humanities, (29), e6888. https://doi.org/10.33732/ASRI.6888

Issue

No. 29 (2025): OpenASRI. Miscelaneous Journal

Section

REview

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