Chernobyl 1986. Disaster, abandonment and rebirth

Forty years on from the worst nuclear accident in civilian history, the Milan Civic Museum of Natural History It hosts an exhibition that combines scientific analysis with public outreach, focusing on the long-term effects of nuclear disasters. The exhibition explores a scenario of immense ecological interest, inviting visitors to reflect on a hypothetical post-apocalyptic future. The tragic event that shook the world, originating from reactor number 4 at the power station, has transformed the surrounding area into a vast open-air laboratory. The exhibition highlights the dynamics governing the radioecology, focusing on the complex relationship between radiation, genetic mutations and the unexpected return of numerous animal species that now inhabit the exclusion zone, which is devoid of human presence.

Through a wide selection of documents, images and artefacts, the exhibition guides visitors towards an understanding of complex concepts relating to radioactivity, the workings of nuclear fission and fusion, and the management of risks associated with nuclear energy. Curated by the museum’s curators Andrea Bonisoli Alquati, Giorgio Chiozzi e Fabrizio Vergani, featuring photographs taken by Bonisoli Alquati himself, the initiative forms part of a wider project TRACKSpromoted by the Municipality of Milan in collaboration with the Italian Society of Natural Sciences. The exhibition explores what remains when the connection with a place is severed, encouraging visitors to reflect on the delicate balance between man, technology and nature.