Jacopo Di Cera's Exhibition 'Shapes / Forme' Explores Paralympic Athletes Through Shadows and Aerial Photography

Jacopo Di Cera's exhibition 'Shapes / Forme – Sotto la stessa luce' features 44 Paralympic athletes from various disciplines, presented at IsolaSET in Milan's Palazzo Lombardia. The project employs a zenital photography perspective, capturing athletes from above to transform their movements into abstract forms and trajectories. Di Cera emphasizes shadows as central visual and symbolic elements, using them to amplify the athletes' presence and convey emotional and poetic dimensions rather than focusing on disability as a deficit. The artist avoids heroic rhetoric, aiming instead to depict sport as a transformative life force. During the exhibition's presentation, some athletes shared personal testimonies about discipline, effort, and freedom. Di Cera reflects on his visual language, noting that aerial photography democratizes space by eliminating hierarchical focus and suspending judgment. He connects this approach to earlier work at Dynamo Camp, where he explored shadows to access inner experiences. The exhibition is part of Di Cera's broader commitment to addressing social themes through conceptual art. Upcoming projects include a digital installation on climate change for the Sierra Leone Pavilion at the Biennale, an installation at Gibellina referencing Alberto Burri's Cretto, and participation in the Mare d'Arte festival in Cervia Milano Marittima.