ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Luigi Spina's 'Sing Sing' at MANN: Photographing Pompeii's Everyday Objects

exhibition · 2026-04-27

At the Villa dei Papiri, the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (MANN) showcases 'Sing Sing – Il corpo di Pompei,' a photography exhibition by Luigi Spina. This display includes fifty black-and-white images of common items from the 'Sing Sing' cells, illustrating the moment of disaster. A publication from 5 Continents Editions, featuring writings by MANN director Paolo Giulierini and others, accompanies the exhibition. Spina has authored twenty-two books and contributed to more than a hundred others. The 'Sing Sing' deposit, identified by archaeologist Giuseppe Maggi in the 1970s, contains artifacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum that endured the eruption of 79 AD. His work emphasizes human experiences while examining themes of time and mortality, pairing his photographs with bronzes from Herculaneum.

Key facts

  • Exhibition 'Sing Sing – Il corpo di Pompei' by Luigi Spina at Villa dei Papiri, MANN, Naples.
  • Fifty black-and-white analog photographs of objects from MANN's deposits.
  • Objects include vases, amphorae, and charred bread from Pompeii and Herculaneum.
  • Exhibition accompanied by a book from 5 Continents Editions.
  • Book includes texts by Paolo Giulierini, João Vilela Geraldo, Davide Vargas, and Luigi Spina.
  • Spina has produced 22 books and contributed to over 100 international volumes.
  • Deposit named 'Sing Sing' by archaeologist Giuseppe Maggi in the 1970s.
  • Spina worked on the project for eight years.
  • Project culminates in 'Anastilosi' section in the book.
  • Objects will soon return to renovated Vesuvian sections of the museum.
  • Installation at Villa dei Papiri juxtaposes images with Herculaneum bronzes.

Entities

Artists

  • Luigi Spina
  • Federico Zeri
  • Giuseppe Maggi

Institutions

  • Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (MANN)
  • Villa dei Papiri
  • 5 Continents Editions
  • Electa Napoli
  • Reggia di Capodimonte

Locations

  • Naples
  • Italy
  • Santa Maria Capua Vetere
  • Pompeii
  • Herculaneum
  • Vesuvius
  • New York
  • Ossining
  • Sing Sing

Sources