Giovanna Silva's Nightswimming Book Explores Discotheque Architecture and Light
Giovanna Silva, a photographer born in Milan in 1980, has released a book titled NIGHTSWIMMING: Discotheques from the 1960s to the Present, published by Humboldt Books. This work is the result of her exploration of nightclub architecture, initiated when Monditalia commissioned her for the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale. Although she started with limited knowledge on the topic, her insights led her to document clubs in cities like Berlin, London, Paris, and Barcelona. Among the venues she captured are Number One in Cortefranca, Ritter Butzke in Berlin, Cocoricò in Riccione, Altromondo Studios in Rimini, BUKA ex CDG in Milan, and Tenax in Firenze. Silva has also contributed to Domus, served as the photo editor for Abitare, founded Humboldt Books, and teaches at NABA Milan and ISIA Urbino.
Key facts
- Giovanna Silva's book NIGHTSWIMMING: Discotheques from the 1960s to the Present is published by Humboldt Books.
- The project originated from a Monditalia commission for the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale.
- Silva expanded her research to include discotheques in Berlin, London, Paris, and Barcelona.
- She photographed clubs both empty and full to show how people erase the concept of space.
- Silva describes the constant smell of clubs as a mixture of cleaning agents, humans, and smoke.
- Light is crucial: discotheques are like old ladies who shouldn't be seen without makeup, she says.
- Featured venues include Number One (Cortefranca), Ritter Butzke (Berlin), Cocoricò (Riccione), Altromondo Studios (Rimini), BUKA ex CDG (Milan), and Tenax (Firenze).
- Silva founded Humboldt Books and San Rocco Magazine, and teaches at NABA Milan and ISIA Urbino.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Monditalia
- Venice Architecture Biennale
- Domus
- Abitare
- Mousse Publishing
- Nero Editions
- bruno
- Art Paper Editions
- Motto Books
- Hatje Cantz
- Humboldt Books
- San Rocco Magazine
- NABA Milan
- ISIA Urbino
- MACRO
- Fondazione Bevilacqua la Masa
- Triennale
- American Academy in Rome
- designboom
- SolidNature
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Venice
- Berlin
- Germany
- London
- United Kingdom
- Paris
- France
- Barcelona
- Spain
- Cortefranca
- Riccione
- Rimini
- Firenze
- Rome