Istanbul, March 28 – The Istanbul Photography and Cinema Amateurs Association (İFSAK), celebrating its 66th year, is hosting the ‘In the Light of Naples’ exhibition by Italian photographer Giampiero Assumma. Organized in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute and Com.It.Es Istanbul, the exhibition features the artist’s works from 2015-2022.
Assumma’s Black and White Naples
During the exhibition tour, Assumma elaborated on the stories behind his photographs and his working principles. Regarding his decision to shoot his Naples-centric photographs in black and white, Assumma stated, “The colorful image of Naples, that is, its touristic and popular aspect, is a kind of externalization of the city for me. However, for me, the soul of Naples is black and white. That is, the most introverted part of the city, the part that remains behind the colors.”
The artist, who has not visited Naples for four years, expressed that he establishes a connection between different cities and his own culture, saying, “I feel at home in Istanbul. When you travel from city to city, when you live in Budapest or Moscow, you bring your own culture with you and establish a bond there.”
The Photographer as a Ghost
Assumma emphasized that for a photograph to be special, the photographer must act like a ghost. He shared his views, “Except for a few special cases, I do not ask permission from the subjects I photograph. I believe that the artist should somewhat disappear, acting as if they don’t even have a body. This way, I can feel not only their identities but also their existence beneath their identities.”
Ara Güler: A Shared Heritage
Assumma noted that Ara Güler’s photographs hold a very special place, stating, “Perhaps these are photographs from 40-50 years ago. But thanks to Ara Güler, these photographs are not only Istanbul’s but also the common heritage of all humanity. When we take photographs in this completely unaware way, to understand people’s deeper thoughts and existence, we also see that these photographs belong to humanity. They bear witness to humanity.”
Assumma commented that it might be beneficial for photographers to step outside their own city to photograph it. He said, “Sometimes you need both a little distance and to be involved. To photograph your own city, you must be both directly in the city and maintain that distance to look at it from the outside.”
Three Decades of Photography
Following the exhibition tour, the artist gave a masterclass. In the training, Assumma discussed the processes of creating a photography project, stating, “For 30 years, I have taken photographs on various subjects. I have taken street, documentary photographs, portraits, conceptual photographs, and many other categories of photographs. Long-term projects, a series of photographs arranged one after another, are realized with a purpose and an idea. It’s as if the artist becomes a storyteller. In fact, developing such long-term projects can be more difficult, but it evokes a deeper and more meaningful feeling about the subject.”
Assumma emphasized that his long-term projects usually begin with a single photograph, and he also discussed his first work, the ‘Lower World’ project. Sharing his views on this project, which consists of photographs taken between 2001 and 2014, the artist explained, “In this study on criminals in mental hospitals, I had to understand how to communicate with people with whom I communicated and who had a completely different life from mine.”
Assumma’s ‘In the Light of Naples’ exhibition, featuring works based on light and shadow, can be visited at the İFSAK Gallery until April 9.
Source: https://www.ensondakika.com.tr/italyan-fotografci-giampiero-assumma-nin-napoli-nin-isiginda-sergisi-istanbul-da-acildi/613671/
