Ancona, new space for contemporary culture opens. It opens with an exhibition by Massimo Baldini

A new space dedicated to contemporary culture is born in Ancona: THEIA Gallery, a project that stands out not only for its originality but also for its home gallery concept. The name, inspired by the Greek goddess of vision, encapsulates the philosophy that animates this place, namely the creation of an intimate space where art and the public can interact without the barriers imposed by traditional galleries. Its distinctiveness lies in being, at the same time, a home and a gallery, a place that welcomes not only works of art, but also cultural events of various kinds, all immersed in the intimate and cozy atmosphere of a home. THEIA Gallery will open from April 12 to May 4 with an exhibition that promises to provoke important reflections on our cultural and social identity: Casa nostra. Housing in Italy by Massimo Baldini. The exhibition, which will remain open during the Easter holidays and spring bridges, features about fifty color photographs that explore the concept of housing in Italy, a theme that is as simple as it is complex and intertwined with the history and traditions of our country.

Massimo Baldini, a photographer and sociologist, has chosen to narrate the Italian dwelling as a microcosm that reflects the plurality of life experiences in our country. His photographs, which range from the countryside to the city, highlight the diversity and richness of Italian homes, from rustic and popular architecture to the more genteel and aristocratic. But this is not a superficial analysis: Baldini investigates in depth the relationship between people and the spaces they inhabit, offering a glimpse into the coexistences and hybridizations that characterize the Italian domestic environment. The elements that define Italian-ness are reflected in these images: the courtyard, where rural and industrial elements mingle; references to the classical tradition, with columns, capitals and bas-reliefs coexisting with more modern and sometimes bizarre details; popular religiosity, embodied by the figures of the Madonna and Padre Pio; and fairy-tale iconography, with full-scale dwarfs and animals. In this exploration of the Italian habitat, Baldini does not just document, but invites the audience to reflect on the deeper meaning of home and the idea that, at the basis of every home, there is a constant search for happiness and fulfillment, which passes through the things, people, events and memories that each of us keeps in our living space.

The choice of this theme for THEIA Gallery’s inaugural exhibition is not accidental. The home, which has always been a symbol of intimacy, is also one of the most exposed and discussed spaces in contemporary society. Besides being a physical place, it is also an entity that reflects values and ideologies, conditioned by politics, economics and social dynamics. Baldini’s project is part of a broader debate on the evolution of living and the new forms of residence that are emerging in Italy, between conservation and innovation. Baldini is not an unknown face on the Italian photographic scene. A graduate in Economic Sociology from the University of Florence, he has dedicated his career to photography, exploring Italian identity from different angles. His most important solo exhibitions include Italianité, exhibited in Paris in 2017, and A Tour not so Grand, in Bologna in 2018. In 2023 he presented Italia Revisited #1, a project reflecting on the transformations of the Italian landscape, inspired by Luigi Ghirri’s famous Viaggio in Italia. His research, always on the borderline between documentation and critical reflection, also led him to publish a volume, Gli Italiani, published by Il Mulino in 2019. The exhibition Casa nostra. Housing in Italy will be open to the public with opening hours Friday, Saturday, Sunday and all holidays, from 3 to 7 p.m. Admission is free, but reservations are recommended, given the special nature of the space and limited capacity.

Ancona, new space for contemporary culture opens. It opens with an exhibition by Massimo Baldini

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