Giovanni Cocco's Burlesque Photography at Magazzini Fotografici, Naples

Photographer Giovanni Cocco (born 1973 in Sulmona) presents 'Burladies,' an intimate reportage on burlesque, at Magazzini Fotografici in Naples. The exhibition, housed in the historic Palazzo Caracciolo d'Avellino on the Decumano Superiore (a UNESCO site), reveals backstage moments and details of this theatrical art form. Burlesque originated in 19th-century Anglo-Saxon theater as entertainment for the Victorian elite and resurfaced in the early 2000s with a punk twist, popularized by American model Dita Von Teese. Cocco's project began in 2007 at Senigallia's Summer Jamboree, an annual festival of 1940s-50s American music and culture, where he was captivated by Von Teese's performance and spent three years documenting shows across Italy. Magazzini Fotografici, founded by photographer Yvonne De Rosa and formerly a handbag workshop, is a cultural hub dedicated to photography. It features three interconnected spaces: a bar hosting #spazioFOTOcopia for photocopy-based exhibitions, a central gallery for national and international artists, and a third area for workshops, book presentations, emerging artists, #cineMagazzini screenings, and a bookshop with self-publishing. Upcoming events include the Fate Festival in San Potito Sannitico (Caserta) through May 13 under the theme #AltreProspettive, and a portrait photography workshop in Naples from June 8-10 in collaboration with Fowa Spa, IgersItalia/IgersNapoli, led by Hasselblad Ambassadors Max&Douglas and Angelo Ferrillo.