Mimmo Jodice: experimental photography beyond reportage

Daniele De Luigi contemplates the impact of Mimmo Jodice, the Neapolitan photographer who recently passed away. Jodice's photographic endeavors in the 1960s were marked by innovative camera techniques that intertwined photography with various forms of media. In the 1970s, he collaborated with Naples' avant-garde, documenting their creations while refining his artistic vision. His focus on impoverished neighborhoods in Naples challenged colonial viewpoints. By the late 1970s, he began to incorporate burns and cuts in his prints, drawing inspiration from Lucio Fontana and Alberto Burri. From the 1980s onward, he fused art, architecture, and nature in his landscapes. De Luigi emphasizes that Jodice's work explores themes of time and mortality, revealing the tension between life and death. Following his passing, Jodice's Instagram showcased portraits that evoke the timelessness of childhood. De Luigi serves as curator at Fondazione Ago Modena.