Ila Bêka's 'Fotoni' Reveals 40 Years of Photography at Magazzino delle Idee

Magazzino delle Idee in Trieste presents 'Fotoni', a solo exhibition by Ila Bêka (born 1967, Latisana), showcasing 300 photographs selected from over 300,000 taken over 40 years. The show runs until October 11, 2026, curated by Barbara Casavecchia. Bêka, known for his film work with Louise Lemoine acquired by MoMA in 2016, here reveals an unpublished photographic practice. The exhibition's title alludes both to physics and light diffusion and ironically to the altered scale of phone photos. Thematically structured around light and body, the works include black-and-white early experiments on Lignano Sabbiadoro beach, animal bodies, and reflections on portraits at Gallerie dell'Accademia di Venezia. A series of 'notturni' features deep blacks printed without glass for direct viewer engagement. Bêka emphasizes photography as a daily, spontaneous practice rather than technical display. A parallel screening of his films runs at Spazio Murat in Bari from July 28 to August 30, curated by Antonella Marino, Marilena Di Tursi, and Antonella Mari.