Vincenzo Castella's 'Timeless Archaeology' at Building Gallery Explores Industrial Decline

Vincenzo Castella's solo exhibition 'Timeless Archaeology' is on view at Building Gallery in Milan through October 20, 2026. Curated by Marco Scotini, the show centers on Castella's photographic practice, particularly his attention to the edges of the frame rather than the center. A key work, '#3205 Venezia Marghera' (1997), depicts the Porto Marghera petrochemical complex through a six-pane window, shrouded in a thick fog known locally as 'caìgo.' The images capture the transition from Fordism to post-Fordism, documenting industrial obsolescence without nostalgia or moralizing. The exhibition includes archival color prints such as '#1 Taranto' (1987) and '#2 Matogrosso, Brasile' (1988), and an installation of twenty-eight frames unspooled from ceiling to floor, referencing the German Patafix factory. Castella was a contributor to the 'Viaggio in Italia' project, and his restrained approach reflects the influence of Luigi Ghirri. The show runs from June 5 to October 3, 2026, at Via Monte di Pietà 23, Milan.