Lanterne magiche. Fotografie dalla collezione Valerio De Paolis

A sequence of visual itineraries runs through the De Paolis Collection, bringing into dialogue different gazes, spaces and contexts, as well as emblematic figures and places of our time.

Hosted at the Museo Carlo Bilotti, Lanterne magiche. Fotografie dalla collezione Valerio De Paolis (Magic Lanterns. Photographs from the Valerio De Paolis Collection) presents, for the first time, a selection of masterpieces of international photography, offering a unique opportunity to explore the richness and depth of one of the most significant private collections in the field.

The exhibition conceptually evokes the magic lantern, the forerunner of photography and cinema: one of the earliest image-based storytelling devices, capable of projecting exotic views, monuments and portraits, transforming them into visual narratives. Like those early projections, the photographs in the De Paolis Collection create a compelling and emotionally powerful spectacle of images, able to conjure distant worlds, surprise the viewer and awaken memories.

The personal and professional journey of Valerio De Paolis is deeply intertwined with the language of images. For many years, cinema lay at the heart of his work – from production manager to producer and distributor – while at the same time he nurtured a profound passion for art, gradually building a collection encompassing painting, sculpture and photography. Within this context, photography assumes a central role as a space of memory, dialogue and visual recognition, chosen for formal affinities and for its ability to evoke visions layered over time.

The exhibition unfolds across three thematic sections, each conceived as a chapter in a visual narrative.

Un’idea di donna (An Idea of Woman)
The first section explores representations of the female body, intertwining the perspectives of women and men photographers in a dialogue that spans seduction, identity and the act of looking.

Un’idea di spazio (An Idea of Space)
The second section is devoted to the representation of space – predominantly urban space – examined by some of the leading figures in international photography, with particular emphasis on the work of Luigi Ghirri, featured with a substantial group of works.

Lo spazio dell’arte (The Space of Art)
In the third section, the research of major avant-garde artists intersects in a dynamic exchange between key figures, installations and experimental languages.

On display are over one hundred photographs in a variety of formats, created by leading figures on the international scene, including Nobuyoshi Araki, Lillian Bassman, Letizia Battaglia, Gianni Berengo Gardin, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Tracy Emin, Candida Höfer, Dennis Hopper, Saul Leiter, Dora Maar, Man Ray, Tina Modotti, Shirin Neshat, Herb Ritts, Thomas Ruff, Cindy Sherman, Edward Weston and Francesca Woodman.

The exhibition is accompanied by a screening programme curated as part of the collaboration between the Casa del Cinema and the Sovrintendenza Capitolina ai Beni Culturali.

Curated by Alessandra Mauro and Roberto Koch with Suleima Autore, the exhibition is promoted by Roma Capitale, Department of Culture and Coordination of initiatives related to Holocaust Remembrance Day, and by the Sovrintendenza Capitolina ai Beni Culturali. It is organised by Cinema in collaboration with Contrasto. The catalogue is published by Contrasto. Museum services are provided by Zètema Progetto Cultura.

Cover image: Los Angeles, 1990 © Franco Fontana.