Bruna Esposito's 'Perle Rare' at Galleria San Fedele, Milan

Bruna Esposito's series 'Perle Rare' (2004-19) is on view at Galleria San Fedele in Milan, curated by Andrea Dall'Asta in collaboration with FL Gallery. The series originated in 2004 when Esposito, invited to the Gwangju Biennale in South Korea themed 'A Grain of Dust – A Drop of Water', had an epiphany while looking at a single pearl earring. She realized the pearl, formed by isolating a foreign grain of dust, was a metaphor for life. The works are portraits of friends reflected on white and black pearls, photographed by Agostino Osio using a custom lens. Each portrait requires an emotional bond, a meaningful location, and natural light. The diptychs pair white and black pearls, symbolizing duality. Esposito describes the process as 'an adventure into the unknown.' The exhibition also connects to her series 'Occhi' (2016) and works using thermal blankets, referencing migration and the sea.