BIOGRAPHY
Luca Mantovani’s work starts as a documentary and architectural photographer. His research focuses on the theme of the signification of the image, an aspect he tackles in the representation of the urban and landscape visions. For him, the communication of architecture is understood as a symbolic transfiguration of ordinary facts that are expressed through the constitution of a set of shapes, necessary to celebrate and host the rites of daily life. Through the camera he identify and investigate the double aspect that he attributes to the meaning of the word “margin”: the visual margin in framing a fragment of the visible, and the territorial margin as a trace and expression of the work of mankind.
Born in Mantua in 1988, he graduated in Architecture at the University IUAV of Venice. He has collaborated with the architects Paolo Zermani, Francesco Di Gregorio and Alessandro Gattara. His approach to photography began thanks to the meeting with Arturo Carlo Quintavalle and Gloria Bianchino. Later he met the artist Franco Guerzoni and with him he explored some aspects related to the relationship between landscape and archaeology. His predilection for analog printing led him to collaborate with Arrigo Ghi. In the field of Visual Studies, he participated in Giovanni Chiaramonte’s course -Dramaturgy of the Image- at IULM University Institute and NABA Academy in Milan, and he was assistant to the professional activity of the photographer Luca Capuano. He is currently collaborating with Luca Panaro, Franco Guerzoni and Diego Mormorio. The critics and art historians Arturo Carlo Quintavalle, Elena Pontiggia, Gloria Bianchino, Paolo Barbaro and the architects Matteo Agnoletto, Alberto Ferlenga and Paolo Zermani have all written about his work. Some of his artwork is present in the photography section of CSAC (Centro Studi e Archivio della Comunicazione) of the University of Parma. He lives and works in Mantua.
Born in Mantua in 1988, he graduated in Architecture at the University IUAV of Venice. He has collaborated with the architects Paolo Zermani, Francesco Di Gregorio and Alessandro Gattara. His approach to photography began thanks to the meeting with Arturo Carlo Quintavalle and Gloria Bianchino. Later he met the artist Franco Guerzoni and with him he explored some aspects related to the relationship between landscape and archaeology. His predilection for analog printing led him to collaborate with Arrigo Ghi. In the field of Visual Studies, he participated in Giovanni Chiaramonte’s course -Dramaturgy of the Image- at IULM University Institute and NABA Academy in Milan, and he was assistant to the professional activity of the photographer Luca Capuano. He is currently collaborating with Luca Panaro, Franco Guerzoni and Diego Mormorio. The critics and art historians Arturo Carlo Quintavalle, Elena Pontiggia, Gloria Bianchino, Paolo Barbaro and the architects Matteo Agnoletto, Alberto Ferlenga and Paolo Zermani have all written about his work. Some of his artwork is present in the photography section of CSAC (Centro Studi e Archivio della Comunicazione) of the University of Parma. He lives and works in Mantua.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
“Microclima”, edited by Luca Panaro, texts by Elena Pontiggia and Matteo Agnoletto (dummy photobook).
“Temenos”, edited by Arturo Carlo Quintavalle and Giovanni Chiaramonte, texts by Alberto Ferlenga and Paolo Barbaro.
“Valle dei Templi”, edited by Luca Panaro (dummy photobook).
“Paesaggi Iniziali”, edited by Gloria Bianchino (dummy photobook).
Alberto Ferlenga, “Vuoti pulsanti. La Tomba Brion di Carlo Scarpa nelle fotografie di Luca Mantovani”, in Alla fine dei conti, August 2022.
“A musical View: the secret Mechanics of a Landscape”, FAMagazine n.54, October-December 2020, ISSN: 2039-0491.
“Anablefobia. Le pieghe dell’arte, le inflessioni nell’anima”, edited by Arturo Carlo Quintavalle, 18 x 29 cm, 88pp, published by Tre Lune Edizioni, Mantua, 2020, ISBN: 978-88-31904-13-1.
“The Hamlet of Compiano, Living in History and the Landscape”, Arcipelago Italia, Italian Pavilion at La Biennale di Venezia, 16th International Architecture Exhibition, edited by Mario Cucinella, Annex Domus magazine n. 1025, June 2018, ISSN: 0012-5377.
“The Hamlet of Compiano, Living in History and the Landscape”, Arcipelago Italia. Projects for the future of the country’s interior territories, edited by Mario Cucinella, 16th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, Italian Pavilion, published by Quodlibet, Macerata, 2018, ISBN: 978-88-229-0176-7.
“Piccole terre di frontiera. Il Serraglio mantovano”, edited by Gloria Bianchino and Paolo Zermani, 21 x 21 cm, 144pp, published by Grafiche Step editrice, Parma, 2018, ISBN: 978-88-7898-152-2.
“Temenos”, edited by Arturo Carlo Quintavalle and Giovanni Chiaramonte, texts by Alberto Ferlenga and Paolo Barbaro.
“Valle dei Templi”, edited by Luca Panaro (dummy photobook).
“Paesaggi Iniziali”, edited by Gloria Bianchino (dummy photobook).
Alberto Ferlenga, “Vuoti pulsanti. La Tomba Brion di Carlo Scarpa nelle fotografie di Luca Mantovani”, in Alla fine dei conti, August 2022.
“A musical View: the secret Mechanics of a Landscape”, FAMagazine n.54, October-December 2020, ISSN: 2039-0491.
“Anablefobia. Le pieghe dell’arte, le inflessioni nell’anima”, edited by Arturo Carlo Quintavalle, 18 x 29 cm, 88pp, published by Tre Lune Edizioni, Mantua, 2020, ISBN: 978-88-31904-13-1.
“The Hamlet of Compiano, Living in History and the Landscape”, Arcipelago Italia, Italian Pavilion at La Biennale di Venezia, 16th International Architecture Exhibition, edited by Mario Cucinella, Annex Domus magazine n. 1025, June 2018, ISSN: 0012-5377.
“The Hamlet of Compiano, Living in History and the Landscape”, Arcipelago Italia. Projects for the future of the country’s interior territories, edited by Mario Cucinella, 16th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, Italian Pavilion, published by Quodlibet, Macerata, 2018, ISBN: 978-88-229-0176-7.
“Piccole terre di frontiera. Il Serraglio mantovano”, edited by Gloria Bianchino and Paolo Zermani, 21 x 21 cm, 144pp, published by Grafiche Step editrice, Parma, 2018, ISBN: 978-88-7898-152-2.
EXHIBITIONS
25 October – 25 November 2024
“New Epic: Fragments of contemporary archaeological landscape”, Creative Lab, Mantua.
19 October 2024 – 19 January 2025
“Lo spazio esperienziale”, curated by Marcello Sparaventi, Centrale Fotografia, MeMo Fotografia, Fano.
4 – 6 October 2024
“Microclima”, archivio dummy photobook curated by Chippendale Studio, Milano Centrale Festival, Milan.
7 – 9 June 2024
“Microclima”, book area curated by Sybille Ciarloni, Fano Centrale Festival, Fano.
May 26 – November 25, 2018
16th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, Italian Pavilion, “Arcipelago Italia. Projects for the future of the country’s interior territories”, curated by Mario Cucinella, Itineraries of the Northern Apennines, photo credits “The Hamlet of Compiano, Living in History and the Landscape”, Arsenale, Venice.
April 22 – June 10, 2018
“Piccole terre di frontiera”, Fotografia Europea 018, curated by Gloria Bianchino, Museo Multimediale della Bonifica, Boretto (RE).
November 12 – December 10, 2017
“Piccole terre di frontiera”, curated by Gloria Bianchino, promoted by University IUAV of Venice, Museo Mondo piccolo, Fontanelle di Roccabianca (PR).
“New Epic: Fragments of contemporary archaeological landscape”, Creative Lab, Mantua.
19 October 2024 – 19 January 2025
“Lo spazio esperienziale”, curated by Marcello Sparaventi, Centrale Fotografia, MeMo Fotografia, Fano.
4 – 6 October 2024
“Microclima”, archivio dummy photobook curated by Chippendale Studio, Milano Centrale Festival, Milan.
7 – 9 June 2024
“Microclima”, book area curated by Sybille Ciarloni, Fano Centrale Festival, Fano.
May 26 – November 25, 2018
16th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, Italian Pavilion, “Arcipelago Italia. Projects for the future of the country’s interior territories”, curated by Mario Cucinella, Itineraries of the Northern Apennines, photo credits “The Hamlet of Compiano, Living in History and the Landscape”, Arsenale, Venice.
April 22 – June 10, 2018
“Piccole terre di frontiera”, Fotografia Europea 018, curated by Gloria Bianchino, Museo Multimediale della Bonifica, Boretto (RE).
November 12 – December 10, 2017
“Piccole terre di frontiera”, curated by Gloria Bianchino, promoted by University IUAV of Venice, Museo Mondo piccolo, Fontanelle di Roccabianca (PR).
LECTURES
April 22, 2024
“Microclima e Thanatos”, Casa del Mantegna, Mantua.
February 21, 2022
“Fotografia e Thanatos”, Casa del Mantegna, Mantua.
September 9, 2021
“Anablefobia: le pieghe dell’arte, le inflessioni nell’anima”, Fondazione Palazzo Te, Mantua.
June 7, 2018
“Piccole terre di frontiera”, Architecture and Photography by Luca Mantovani, speeches by: Luca Mantovani and Emilio Patuzzo, Casa del Mantegna, Mantua.
May 18, 2018
MantovArchitettura, International Architecture Festival, in collaboration with Casabella magazine, “Architettura e Fotografia”, speeches by: Luca Mantovani, Gloria Bianchino and Paolo Zermani, Politecnico di Milano, Mantua.
“Microclima e Thanatos”, Casa del Mantegna, Mantua.
February 21, 2022
“Fotografia e Thanatos”, Casa del Mantegna, Mantua.
September 9, 2021
“Anablefobia: le pieghe dell’arte, le inflessioni nell’anima”, Fondazione Palazzo Te, Mantua.
June 7, 2018
“Piccole terre di frontiera”, Architecture and Photography by Luca Mantovani, speeches by: Luca Mantovani and Emilio Patuzzo, Casa del Mantegna, Mantua.
May 18, 2018
MantovArchitettura, International Architecture Festival, in collaboration with Casabella magazine, “Architettura e Fotografia”, speeches by: Luca Mantovani, Gloria Bianchino and Paolo Zermani, Politecnico di Milano, Mantua.
ESSAYS
Microclima:
“La rivelazione silenziosa”, by Elena Pontiggia.
“Incipit”, by Matteo Agnoletto.
Temenos:
“Vuoti pulsanti” La Tomba Brion di Carlo Scarpa nelle fotografie di Luca Mantovani, by Alberto Ferlenga.
“Lanterna Magica” Luca Mantovani fotografo per Carlo Scarpa, by Paolo Barbaro.
Paesaggi Iniziali:
“Nell’armadio di Neil Armstrong”, by Luca Mantovani.
Anablefobia:
“Il giardino dell’altrove: la visione dell’altro”, by Luca Mantovani.
“Mantovani e Mantegna: cieli di pietra”, by Arturo Carlo Quintavalle.
Piccole terre di frontiera:
“L’angoscia deserta della pianura”, by Gloria Bianchino.“L’apparecchio sensitivo: esperienza acustica e visiva di pianura”, by Luca Mantovani.
“Terra dei morti: il progetto della terra”, by Paolo Zermani.
“La rivelazione silenziosa”, by Elena Pontiggia.
“Incipit”, by Matteo Agnoletto.
Temenos:
“Vuoti pulsanti” La Tomba Brion di Carlo Scarpa nelle fotografie di Luca Mantovani, by Alberto Ferlenga.
“Lanterna Magica” Luca Mantovani fotografo per Carlo Scarpa, by Paolo Barbaro.
Paesaggi Iniziali:
“Nell’armadio di Neil Armstrong”, by Luca Mantovani.
Anablefobia:
“Il giardino dell’altrove: la visione dell’altro”, by Luca Mantovani.
“Mantovani e Mantegna: cieli di pietra”, by Arturo Carlo Quintavalle.
Piccole terre di frontiera:
“L’angoscia deserta della pianura”, by Gloria Bianchino.“L’apparecchio sensitivo: esperienza acustica e visiva di pianura”, by Luca Mantovani.
“Terra dei morti: il progetto della terra”, by Paolo Zermani.
Design: Emilio Patuzzo