Berengo Gardin, master of 20th century Italian photography, dies

Gianni Berengo Gardin, one of the country's biggest names in photography, died in Italy this Thursday (7) at the age of 94. He has an exhibition on display in Perugia, Umbria, until September 28.

Born in 1930 in Santa Margherita Ligure, Genoa, Berengo Gardin explored photojournalism, focusing on social, architectural, and environmental subjects. He contributed to major Italian and international publications, such as Il Mondo, L'Espresso, Le Figaro, and Time, publishing over 260 photography volumes and holding over 360 solo exhibitions in Italy and abroad.

In 2016, the exhibition "True Photography: Reports, Images and Encounters" at PalaExpo in Rome showcased his long career, with over 250 images. Six years later, Maxxi, also in the Italian capital, dedicated the retrospective "The Master's Gaze" to Berengo Gardin, and the following year, in 2023, the exhibition "Things Never Seen" also showcased work by the veteran photographer, winner of several international awards.

Currently on display at the National Gallery of Umbria in Perugia until September 28th is the exhibition "Gianni Berengo Gardin Photographs the Studio of Giorgio Morandi." Curated by Alessandra Mauro, the event showcases 21 of the most significant photographs taken by the renowned photographer in 1993, when he was invited to document the workspaces of Bolognese painter Giorgio Morandi (1890-1964) for the inauguration of the museum dedicated to the artist in the capital of Emilia-Romagna.

"With Gianni Berengo Gardin, we have lost an undisputed master of photography. A true explorer who captured humanity and nature in every corner of the Earth. His gaze illuminated the history of the 20th century," declared Italian Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli.