1/3
1/3
In Conversation: Roselena Ramistella and Gianni Berengo Gardin
In Conversation: Roselena Ramistella and Gianni Berengo Gardin
June 17, 2025
© Gianni Berengo Gardin
In celebration of Leica’s 100 year jubilee, the Leica Gallery Milan is presenting the exhibition In Conversation: a Photographic Dialogue between Roselena Ramistella and Gianni Berengo Gardin. Ramistella speaks of her humanistic perspective complementing that of Berengo Gardin, who produced socio-documentary humanistic series in black and white. The works of both gifted photographers create a space for an exchange, dealing with stories of human existence within the context of community.
Roselena Ramistella: "My photographs deal with social, cultural and geopolitical subjects. In Men of Troubled Waters, I show Sicilian fishermen who rescue migrants at sea while out fishing. The Healers portrays older women who treat people through prayer, with folk magic and healing knowledge that has been handed down – a tradition that has never been documented before. For Deepland, I travelled along old mule tracks to show the changes taking place in the lives of rural communities – an ongoing project, since 2016. My work weaves personal stories with Sicily’s history and raises questions of global relevance. For me, Sicily is a symbol of strong identity and cultural distinction – a “borderland” that is geographically close, but often mentally distant from Europe.
Berengo Gardin’s iconic photo is immediately recognisable. It was taken in Great Britain, in 1977, and it shows a small car parked in front of an expansive seascape. A couple sit inside the car, seemingly lost in thought, while the Irish Sea stretches out in the background. This picture conveys the feeling of a moment of pause, and raises countless questions in the mind of the viewer: is the couple breaking up? Are they lovers? The loneliness of the two protagonists is tangible; they appear isolated, detached from the world around them, while they watch the sea. The simplicity of the scene becomes a powerful tool of reflection and invites viewers to dive into a universe of feelings and interpretations.
The common desire to explore human existence, within different contexts, is evident in the dialogue between my pictures and those of Berengo Gardin. My approach is expressed through the colours I use to draw as much information as possible out of every scene; while Berengo Gardin is a master of black and white photography and concentrates on the essential. The thing we have in common, however, is the storytelling: whether it’s a short story, told in one single picture, or a long-term project – we’re both striving to tell stories about a community or an individual – faces, events, transformations. In our work, the transition is an aesthetic one, but the historical and political contexts and societies differ. And yet, from an emotional point of view, nothing changes."
Roselena Ramistella: "My photographs deal with social, cultural and geopolitical subjects. In Men of Troubled Waters, I show Sicilian fishermen who rescue migrants at sea while out fishing. The Healers portrays older women who treat people through prayer, with folk magic and healing knowledge that has been handed down – a tradition that has never been documented before. For Deepland, I travelled along old mule tracks to show the changes taking place in the lives of rural communities – an ongoing project, since 2016. My work weaves personal stories with Sicily’s history and raises questions of global relevance. For me, Sicily is a symbol of strong identity and cultural distinction – a “borderland” that is geographically close, but often mentally distant from Europe.
Berengo Gardin’s iconic photo is immediately recognisable. It was taken in Great Britain, in 1977, and it shows a small car parked in front of an expansive seascape. A couple sit inside the car, seemingly lost in thought, while the Irish Sea stretches out in the background. This picture conveys the feeling of a moment of pause, and raises countless questions in the mind of the viewer: is the couple breaking up? Are they lovers? The loneliness of the two protagonists is tangible; they appear isolated, detached from the world around them, while they watch the sea. The simplicity of the scene becomes a powerful tool of reflection and invites viewers to dive into a universe of feelings and interpretations.
The common desire to explore human existence, within different contexts, is evident in the dialogue between my pictures and those of Berengo Gardin. My approach is expressed through the colours I use to draw as much information as possible out of every scene; while Berengo Gardin is a master of black and white photography and concentrates on the essential. The thing we have in common, however, is the storytelling: whether it’s a short story, told in one single picture, or a long-term project – we’re both striving to tell stories about a community or an individual – faces, events, transformations. In our work, the transition is an aesthetic one, but the historical and political contexts and societies differ. And yet, from an emotional point of view, nothing changes."
Text: © Roselena Ramistella
Im Dialog+-
The exhibition at the Leica Gallery Milan runs from June 2025.
Roselena Ramistella+-
Born in Sicily in 1982, the Italian photographer deals predominantly with social, humanistic and cultural aspects. She studied Photography and Communication Sciences, and has worked both nationally and internationally. Presented in numerous solo and group exhibitions and at photography festivals, her photographs have also appeared in various publications, such as National Geographic, Internazionale and Marie Claire. Her homeland often serves as a common thread, connecting all these narratives into a visual story that celebrates the richness of social and cultural experiences.
Gianni Berengo Gardin+-
Born on October 10, 1930, in Santa Margherita Ligure, the photographer began his career in the fifties, inspired by the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson. Berengo Gardin focussed on humanistic photography in a reportage style, dealing primarily with life in Italy. Among others, he worked for renowned magazines such as Il Mondo, L’Espresso and Domus. He always worked in black and white with analogue cameras, and during his career published over 250 photo books. He is considered one of the most significant photographers of the 20th century.
© Gianni Berengo Gardin
Gran Bretagna, 1977 © Gianni Berengo Gardin, Courtesy Fondazione Forma per la Fotografia
© Roselena Ramistella