Stefano De Luigi's 'Televisiva' Examines 1990s Italian TV's Toxic Legacy

Stefano De Luigi (born 1964, Colonia) presents 'Televisiva', an exhibition of 32 black-and-white photographs curated by Giusi Affronti at Other Size Gallery in Milan. The project, developed over six years and matured over 25 years, critiques 1990s Italian television as a vehicle for anti-democratic values, populism, and civic diseducation. De Luigi argues that TV in the 1950s-70s served a public mission, but in the 80s-90s it promoted hedonism, violence, and individualism, contributing to a deficit of culture and tolerance for anti-democratic rhetoric. The photos capture moments from shows like 'Grande Fratello' and 'Bisturi', featuring figures such as Rocco Casalino, Wendy, Irene Pivetti (former President of the Chamber of Deputies), and Platinette. De Luigi, a four-time World Press Photo Award winner, distinguishes between artistic and documentary photography only for market purposes, citing Les Rencontres d'Arles as a model for transversal approaches. The exhibition runs at Other Size Gallery in Milan.