Mart presents a major exhibition dedicated to Gianni Berengo Gardin (1930–2025), a towering figure in Italian photography. The show delves into a cornerstone of his artistic vision: a passion for architecture and his tireless, inspired documentation of construction sites for landmark projects designed by close friends, most notably Renzo Piano.

The exhibition’s title draws from Stefano Boeri, who characterised Berengo’s photographs as: “classical because they transcend trends. They have the grace of something that seems to have always existed. They are, quite simply, worlds to inhabit.”

The project centres on Berengo Gardin’s “urban planner’s” eye—how he observes the world, capturing the geometric order of spaces, the sculptural volumes of landscapes, and the interplay of solids and voids that define everyday life, revealing the connection between outside and inside worlds. On one hand, there are the structures and architecture that shape the landscape; on the other, the “human factor”, the people who live in, move through, and experience these places. These worlds to inhabit are precise, poetic and dreamlike urban visions—built spaces that both shelter and come alive through human presence.
In the exhibition, squares, houses, streets, and arcades engage in a dialogue with construction sites, balancing between destruction and renewal. The photographs dedicated to work—with its gestures, movement, and human presence—contrast with more abstract images that capture walls, thresholds, places; reflections, multiplications, and interpenetrations. Amidst this diversity of subjects, a distinctive thread emerges: stylistic coherence and a unique, recognisable vision that defines Berengo Gardin’s refined aesthetic.

The exhibition unfolds across nine sections featuring 120 images from the family archive and retracing the artist’s journey from the 1950s through 2013. It opens with a section devoted to Venice—the city where Berengo Gardin grew up, came of age, and began his photographic journey—and circles back, closing with his celebrated reportage on the city’s giant ships.
Attesting to the deep friendship that spanned the entire careers of Berengo Gardin and Renzo Piano, the exhibition features a never-before-seen video in which Piano reminisces about his personal and professional bond with the photographer. At the centre of the exhibition route, Piano’s words will alternate with the screening of Daniele Cini’s biographical film Il ragazzo con la Leica (2021).

Completing these special insights are several large-scale photographs of the artist in his Milan studio and two photographs depicting the Mart’s piazza and foyer. Unearthed in his archive by his daughter Susanna, these never-before-seen images were not created for an official commission, but sprang from personal passion during a holiday. Berengo Gardin often spent long summer stays in the Dolomite valleys with his wife, Caterina Stiffoni.


The catalogue
The exhibition is complemented by a namesake catalogue, published by Contrasto. The project investigates the interplay between image composition, architectural curiosity, and the exploration of inhabited spaces. It aims to suggest new viewpoints and parallel paths, unveiling different worlds to inhabit.
Measuring 18 x 25 cm, the volume features 224 pages and 120 black-and-white photographs. It will be available at the exhibition, in bookstores, and online for €39.00.


Buy ticket