Antonio Ottomanelli on 'Verso il Mediterraneo' and the Future of Italian Landscape Photography
Curator Antonio Ottomanelli discusses the exhibition 'Verso il Mediterraneo. Sezioni del paesaggio da Salerno a Reggio Calabria' at Palazzo Poli in Rome, closing February 14. The show, designed by studio 2A+P/A, features photographs by Gabriele Basilico, Olivo Barbieri, and Mario Cresci, lent by MAXXI. It is organized with Anas and ICG. Ottomanelli and co-curator Emilia Giorgi plan a future 'Padiglione Italia' research group to promote nationwide landscape surveys. Ottomanelli also curates 'Lessons of a City' opening February 24 at Planar Gallery in Bari, focusing on Amman's transformations. The project originated from 'Monditalia' at the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale, curated by Rem Koolhaas, and expanded with a 2016 photographic campaign across Campania and Basilicata. A catalog with essays by Stefano Boeri, Joseph Grima, and Mauro Francesco Minervino is forthcoming. Ottomanelli argues photography is architecture and a tool for reconstruction and dialogue, advocating for independent, grassroots initiatives over institutional ones.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Verso il Mediterraneo' at Palazzo Poli, Rome, closes February 14.
- Curated by Antonio Ottomanelli and Emilia Giorgi.
- Installation design by studio 2A+P/A (Gianfranco Bombaci, Matteo Costanzo with Sebastiano Palamara and Rina Rolli).
- Features works by Gabriele Basilico, Olivo Barbieri, Mario Cresci from MAXXI collection.
- Organized with Anas and ICG (Istituto centrale per la grafica).
- Project originated from 'Monditalia' at the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale curated by Rem Koolhaas.
- 2016 photographic campaign extended to Campania and Basilicata with 11 photographers.
- Forthcoming catalog includes essays by Stefano Boeri, Joseph Grima, Mauro Francesco Minervino.
- Ottomanelli curates 'Lessons of a City' opening February 24 at Planar Gallery, Bari.
- Planar Gallery opening includes talks from February 24-26 with Lorenza Baroncelli, Joseph Grima, Marco Ferrari, Elisa Pasqual (Folder Studio), Domenico Pastore, Mark Wasiuta, Parasite 2.0, Small.
- Ottomanelli proposes a future 'Padiglione Italia' research group for nationwide landscape surveys.
- Ottomanelli views photography as architecture and a tool for reconstruction and dialogue.
Entities
Artists
- Antonio Ottomanelli
- Emilia Giorgi
- Gabriele Basilico
- Olivo Barbieri
- Mario Cresci
- Gianfranco Bombaci
- Matteo Costanzo
- Sebastiano Palamara
- Rina Rolli
- Stefano Boeri
- Joseph Grima
- Mauro Francesco Minervino
- Jawad Dukhgan
- Lorenza Baroncelli
- Marco Ferrari
- Elisa Pasqual
- Domenico Pastore
- Mark Wasiuta
- Rem Koolhaas
- Valentina Silvestrini
Institutions
- Palazzo Poli
- MAXXI
- Anas
- ICG – Istituto centrale per la grafica
- Triennale di Milano
- Planar Gallery
- Folder Studio
- Parasite 2.0
- Small
- Artribune
- Biennale di Venezia
- Monditalia
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Salerno
- Reggio Calabria
- Calabria
- Campania
- Basilicata
- Bari
- Puglia
- Amman
- Jordan
- Venice
- Milan
- Gioia Tauro
- Val di Susa
- Taranto
- Appennini
- Centro Italia