Vittore Fossati on Luigi Ghirri and the 'Viaggio in Italia' Movement
In a conversation with Artribune, Vittore Fossati, an Italian photographer born in 1954 in Alessandria, reflects on his artistic journey and his partnership with Luigi Ghirri, focusing on their 1984 exhibit 'Viaggio in Italia'. Fossati's interest in photography sparked in the late 1970s, inspired by Luigi Carluccio's critiques. He launched an exhibition venue in Alessandria, featuring Eugène Atget's works in 1977 and Olivo Barbieri's in 1979. After meeting Ghirri in 1978, he participated in 'Iconicittà' in 1979. For 'Viaggio in Italia', Ghirri chose Fossati's photographs, with the catalog published by Il Quadrante. Additionally, Fossati co-created 'Viaggio di un paesaggio terrestre' in 2007 and co-directed the documentary 'Viaggio in Italia. I fotografi vent'anni dopo' in 2004. Angela Madesani highlighted the exhibition's significance for Italian landscape photography.
Key facts
- Vittore Fossati was born in Alessandria in 1954.
- He began photographing in the late 1970s after reading Luigi Carluccio's reviews in Panorama.
- Fossati opened a small exhibition space in Alessandria.
- In April 1977, he showed Eugène Atget photographs printed by Berenice Abbott.
- He met Luigi Ghirri in 1978.
- Ghirri included Fossati in 'Iconicittà' in Ferrara (1979).
- Fossati arranged publication of the 'Viaggio in Italia' catalog with Il Quadrante after Laterza withdrew.
- The catalog reproduces 86 of about 300 photographs from the exhibition.
- Fossati participated in 'Traversate del deserto' (1984) with Gianni Celati.
- For 'Esplorazioni sulla via Emilia' (1984), Ghirri told Fossati: 'Don't confuse precision with depth.'
- In 2007, Fossati co-created 'Viaggio di un paesaggio terrestre' with Giorgio Messori, published after Messori's death.
- In December 2011, Fossati and others photographed Ghirri's home in Roncocesi.
- A show of those photographs was held at 'La stanza' in Narni in February.
- Fossati co-directed the documentary 'Viaggio in Italia. I fotografi vent'anni dopo' (2004) with Maurizio Magri.
- The documentary was commissioned by the Museo di Fotografia Contemporanea di Cinisello Balsamo.
- Angela Madesani wrote the interview and the concluding reflection.
- The interview was published in Artribune Magazine #45.
Entities
Artists
- Vittore Fossati
- Luigi Ghirri
- Eugène Atget
- Berenice Abbott
- Olivo Barbieri
- Gianni Celati
- Giovanni Zaffagnini
- Cesare Ballardini
- Giorgio Messori
- Daniele De Lonti
- Gianni Leone
- Beppe Sebaste
- Arturo Carlo Quintavalle
- Maurizio Magri
- Mimmo Jodice
- Gabriele Basilico
- Guido Guidi
- Giovanni Chiaramonte
- Vincenzo Castella
- Mario Cresci
- Tonino Guerra
- Ermanno Cavazzoni
- Ruggero Pierantoni
- Daniele Del Giudice
- Caspar David Friedrich
- Paola Ghirri
Institutions
- Artribune
- Panorama
- Il Quadrante
- Lindau
- Laterza
- Pinacoteca Provinciale di Bari
- Museo di Fotografia Contemporanea di Cinisello Balsamo
- GAMeC di Bergamo
- Corriere della Sera
- La Lettura
- La stanza (Narni)
- Chiostro di San Domenico (Reggio Emilia)
- Fotografia Europea
- I figli del deserto
Locations
- Alessandria
- Italy
- Oviglio
- Ferrara
- Bari
- Roncocesi
- Narni
- Reggio Emilia
- Villa Minozzo
- Appennino reggiano
- Baltico
- Cinisello Balsamo
- Bergamo
- Torino