From January 30 to September 8, 2025, the Prada Foundation Observatory immerses visitors in the fascinating world of storyboards and preparatory renderings in film. A unique immersion into the heart of the creative process, highlighting more than 800 works from nearly a century of film production.
When the image precedes the movement
Behind every iconic shot in cinema lies meticulous work, often invisible to the viewer: the storyboard. This visual language structures a director's vision, coordinates the efforts of the technical team, and shapes the narrative long before filming begins. The exhibition A Kind of Language: Storyboards and Other Renderings for CinemaThe exhibition, presented at the Prada Foundation Observatory, explores this art through a vast body of preparatory documents. These were created by renowned filmmakers, graphic designers, animators, and art directors.
Curated by Melissa Harris, this exhibition highlights the richness and diversity of approaches to filmmaking, from animation to live-action films. From original drawings by Georges Méliès to sketches from Studio Ghibli, and storyboards from Fantasy fabric (1940) et Virgin Suicides (1999) by Sofia Coppola, A Kind of Language is a journey through the imagination of creators.
A scenographic space conceived as a film in the making
Designed by Andrea Faraguna of the Berlin-based studio Sub, the exhibition's scenography reinvents the space by drawing inspiration from storyboards. Each display table, reminiscent of an artist's desk, is dedicated to a specific film. It reveals the sequence of scenes in the form of sketches and preparatory drawings. To enrich the experience, these tables are replicated suspended from the ceiling, creating a sense of depth that guides the visitor's gaze like a cinematic tracking shot.
The installation is structured around a 40cm wide horizon line that visually connects the interior of the Observatory to the majestic dome of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. This mise en abyme underlines the continuity between past and present, between the fixed language of the storyboard and the magic of cinematic movement.
Behind the scenes of cinematic storytelling
The storyboard plays a crucial role in the visual construction of a film. It is also a tool for reflecting on storytelling and directing. As Melissa Harris explains: "For many, storyboarding is a crucial step. By visually establishing a scene and defining its dynamics, the team gains a better understanding of the relationships between the characters, the evolution of the narrative, and how a cinematic moment can be conveyed."
This approach is illustrated by exceptional documents, such as the sketches of The Ten Commandments (1956) by Cecil B. DeMille, the set design studies for Dune, by Alejandro Jodorowsky, or even the annotated storyboards of The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) by Wes Anderson. The exhibition also highlights the differences between European productions, often more artisanal, and the Hollywood system, focused on efficiency.
A dialogue between still and animated art
The experience doesn't end at the Observatory's walls. Alongside the exhibition, the Godard Cinema at the Prada Foundation will offer a special program of films related to storyboarding from February to September 2025. This cinematic selection complements the exhibition by offering a dynamic vision of the transition from drawing to movement.
In addition, an illustrated publication will document this exploration of cinema's visual language. It will include texts by Melissa Harris and a scenographic reflection by the Sub studio. Finally, A Kind of Language will continue with a second part at Prada Rong Zhai, in Shanghai, from November 2025 to February 2026.
A tribute to the essence of cinema
Through this retrospective, the Prada Foundation offers a unique immersion into the alchemy of cinema. Each pencil stroke becomes a score of light and each sketch, the preamble to a masterpiece. A Kind of Language This is not just an exhibition: it is a manifesto on the power of the image and the poetry of cinematic language. A celebration of the creative act which, long before the camera, shaped the history of the 7th art.
