An exhibition in Alexandria featuring 60 "things never seen" by Gianni Berengo Gardin

Throughout his career Gianni Berengo Gardin (Santa Margherita Ligure, 1930) has produced 263 books. The last one dates back to 2023 and consists of 114 images selected from his entire personal archive with the help of his daughter Susanna. Thus was born Things Never Seen. Unseen Photographs, published by the Contrasto publishing house and presented in exhibition for the first time at Ma.Co.F, Centro della fotografia Italiana in Brescia last year. Now, from June 6 to Sept. 15, 2024, the Sale d’Arte in Alessandria is re-presenting the exhibition, under the title Gianni Berengo Gardin. Things Never Seen, curated by Giovanna Calvenzi and Susanna Berengo Gardin. The curators propose a different selection from the Bergamo exhibition: about sixty “things never seen,” but with special attention devoted to the men and women Berengo Gardin encountered in the course of his work. Unprinted, unpublished images that nevertheless testify to his extraordinary mastery. The journey through his archive begins in 1954 and ends in 2023; it passes through many Italian cities, reaches Paris, Croatia, Hungary, Spain, Norway, stops in Moscow, China, Japan, London and New York.

Berengo likes to declare that “It doesn’t matter ’how’ you photograph but what you photograph,” a statement that underscores the humility with which he talks about his work and implicitly states that he only wants to be a witness and not an author. His photographs also testify to his ability to narrate people and events with respect and empathy, an involuntary willingness to participate in what happens in front of his lens, and a wisdom in choosing moments and composition that have made him a true master. In 1970, for his book The Eye as a Craft, his photographer friend Cesare Colombo advised him to have “two eyes as a craft, one to squint at the client, while the other will be the more watchful and open one.” History has proven him wrong: Berengo and this exhibition of unpublished works prove that Berengo’s “watchful and open” eyes are both. Closing the exhibition is an unpublished section of Berengo Gardin’s photographs taken in 1994 on the occasion of the historical re-enactment of the Battle of Marengo.

The master’s photographs make up the catalog Gianni Berengo Gardin - Marengo, 1994, which also contains texts by Napoleonic history expert Giulio Massobrio. The catalog will be presented during the opening. The exhibition is produced by ASM Costruire Insieme and the City of Alessandria, with the collaboration of Alexala Local Tourist Agency for the Province of Alessandria for promotion in the area. The exhibition is supported by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Alessandria as part of the project “Alexandria and the Great Masters of Photography. Culture for the community and local development,” born out of the experience of Gabriele Basilico’s exhibition Returns to Beirut also organized in Alexandria in 2023 by the Municipality and ASM Costruire Insieme, intended to bring national and international level exhibitions to the city.

“The Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Alessandria,” says president, notary Luciano Mariano, “welcomed with interest the proposal to be a partner of ASM Costruire Insieme, the Municipality of Alessandria and Alexala on the occasion of the exhibition of one of the most well-known Italian photographers of our time, who is also exhibiting shots taken during the re-enactment of the Battle of Marengo, helping to recall a historical event that changed the fate of Europe and to enhance a site that represents an important opportunity for international promotion for the entire Alessandria area.”

Image: Gianni Berengo Gardin, Great Britain, 1977

An exhibition in Alexandria featuring 60 "things never seen" by Gianni Berengo Gardin

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.