The exhibition presents the works together for the first time Photographic series most significant of the last twenty years by Mitch Epstein in which he explores the conflicts between the American Society and the Wilderness in the context of global climate change: American Power, Property Rights, and Old Growth.
The curatorship was entrusted to Brian Wallis (CPW – Center for Photography at Woodstock)
In American Power, the artist documents the impact of energy production and consumption on the landscape and people of the United States. From 2003 to 2008, Epstein traveled the country to photograph fossil fuel and nuclear power production sites and the communities that live there. Epstein began his Property Rights series on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in 2017. Epstein’s latest work, Old Growth – of which a part commissioned by Intesa Sanpaolo is presented in preview – celebrates the ancient forests that survive in remote regions of the United States. In fact, almost all of America's ancient forests, about 95%, have been destroyed in the last century.. In addition to these three photographic series, Epstein’s photographic production, the immersive room of the Gallerie d’Italia – Turin will premiere Mitch Epstein’s original project Forest Waves, a video and sound installation of the four seasons in the forests of Berkshire. The video of the woods that will surround viewers is accompanied by a hypnotic soundtrack by musicians Mike Tamburo and Samer Ghadry, recorded in those same forests.
Michele Coppola, Executive Director of Art, Culture and Historical Heritage at Intesa Sanpaolo, states: «Mitch Epstein's photographs tell the beauty and fragility of "American nature" and in those spectacular works we unquestionably read the obligation to take care of the planet. Working with the greatest photographers in the world means thinking about current events thanks to a privileged point of view. Some images will remain forever in our memory for their elegance, delicacy and strength»
The Turin museum, together with those in Milan, Naples and Vicenza, is part of the Gallerie d'Italia museum project of Intesa Sanpaolo, led by Michele Coppola - Executive Director of Art, Culture and Historic Heritage of the Bank and General Manager Gallerie d'Italia.
Installation images by Andrea Guermani
