The third edition of the Mantua Biennial of Female Photography will officially open on 8 March 2024, a showcase where you can learn about and explore the photographic works of important Italian and international artists, every weekend until 14 April 2024
Located in various historic locations in Mantua, the Biennial of Female Photography is organized by the La Papessa Association, with the patronage of the Lombardy Region and the Municipality of Mantua, and with the support of Fujifilm Italia. The artistic direction of the is entrusted to Alessia Locatelli who for the 2024 edition has identified the title “Private”, which contains various meanings.
The theme “Private” ranges between the multiple languages of photography and refers to the sphere of private life, to the concept of privacy in its public and private aspects, both in the physical world and on social networks. It explores the theme of censorship, the virtual world and online sharing, as well as post-photographic reality and surveillance through cameras. It reflects on the dichotomy between public and private space, between reality and virtuality.
Biennial of Women’s Photography: from 8 March in Mantua
The Biennial of Women’s Photography traditionally engages with social and geopolitical issues such as education, classism, the effects of migration on land deprivation, economics, civil liberties and neo-colonialism.
FUJIFILM has always been committed to supporting projects aimed at promoting the culture of the image, as well as initiatives aimed at enhancing the role and empowerment of the female figure both in the social and professional context. In line with this commitment, FUJIFILM Italia is proud to be alongside the Mantua Biennial of Women’s Photography since its foundation.
Biennial of Women’s Photography: from 8 March in Mantua | The program
The 2024 edition follows the format of the previous ones, presenting main exhibitions of Italian and international female photographers at Palazzo Te Tinelli, Casa di Rigoletto, Casa del Mantegna, Galleria Disegno, Spazio Arrivabene2 and Casa del Pittore. Artists on display include Daria Addabbo, Luisa Dörr, Kiana Hayeri, Esther Hovers, Tamara Merino, Thandiwe Muriu, Photos2 Solitary, Claudia Ruiz Gustafson, Newsha Tavakolian, Cammie Toloui, along with a selection of photos by Lisetta Carmi in collaboration with the Lisetta Carmi, Martini and Ronchetti Archive (Genoa).
In addition to the exhibitions, the event includes an Open Call for an Off Circuit, portfolio readings, workshops, educational workshops for children, conferences and the screening of the six docufilms “Le Fotografe”, conceived, written and directed by Francesco G. Raganato, and produced by TERRATREMA FILM for SKY ORIGINAL.
The photographs selected by the Open Call will be exhibited free of charge in public places in the city, involving traders and offering an opportunity to involve the entire city community and tourists, attracting their attention to the event.
Sublimista, a literary and photographic magazine that inspires the search for the Sublime through stories of artists, works and places, continues the project “Instant Portraits in Search of the Sublime”, launched during the BFF 2022 edition. In this research he will be supported by INSTAX by FUJIFILM.
Artists and audiences will be the protagonists of portraits taken with INSTAX instant cameras. The prints will then be exhibited on a dedicated photo wall in the evocative setting of the Casa del Mantegna and published in the “Speciale Biennale BFF” of sublimista.it, as well as being shared on social media with the hashtag #InstaxSublimiBFF. Each subject portrayed will be asked the question “What is the meaning of the Sublime for each of us?”, and will act as a common thread throughout the project.