The exhibition is the sixth of 12 worldwide exhibitions celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Leica I.

What happens when two gazes, radically different in time and trajectory, listen to one another while telling the story of the same country? Not a comparison, nor a confrontation. But a dialogue. Or better yet: a conversation.

From June 4 to the end of July 2025, Leica Galerie Milano hosts a dialogue between Gianni Berengo Gardin (Santa Margherita Ligure, 1930) and Roselena Ramistella (Gela, 1982). Gianni Berengo Gardin, a master of black and white, has traveled through the twentieth century with the urgency of depicting an authentic Italy: one of labor, daily rituals, marginality, and unexpected beauty. Roselena Ramistella, a refined and deeply contemporary artist, instead speaks of an interior, fragmented Italy, made of waiting, memories, bodies, and landscapes that tell of complex and layered identities.

After Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Madrid, Munich, and New York, the Italian stop of In Conversation arrives in June.  100 years of Leica photography have produced a host of outstanding photographic moments, which now take centre stage in the growing network of 29 Leica Galleries. As mediators of culture, art and knowledge, the galleries have taken on significant social responsibility. In the process, they are striking a balance between presenting contemporary photography and showcasing the great icons of yesteryear. On the occasion of this centenary, Leica is celebrating this heritage with a special concept that fosters a conversation between photography of the past and present. An exhibition will open in a selected Leica Gallery every month, linking a contemporary talent with one of the Leica Hall of Fame winners. The end result will be twelve captivating pairs whose works complement one another, reference each other and spark inspiration for all.

With over 40 images on display, In Conversation explores two visions moving along different - yet not opposing - tracks: not to contrast two generations, but to explore distinct ways of inhabiting the world through photography. Berengo captures the immediacy of reality with the clarity and tenderness of someone who has seen it all, Leica in hand. Ramistella searches the invisible edges, the cracks of everyday life, surfacing layered emotions that pulse beneath the surface of her images. Together, they create a fertile tension between document and vision, memory and inner gaze.

"Through my photographs, I have always sought to document the many facets of the 'human comedy': small everyday gestures, relationships, work, the connections between people and the environments they live in, domestic interiors, the marginalized, both the small and the grand stories. The Leica, with its ease of use, exceptional lens quality, and portability, has been my faithful companion throughout all these years. I’ve used them all, always remaining loyal to analog. My first M3, purchased in 1954, still works perfectly and has never needed servicing."

-Gianni Berengo Gardin

In Conversation, marking the centenary of the Leica I, is not only a tribute to the camera that revolutionized the world of photography but also an invitation to listen to two distinct and authentic voices-who brush against each other, question, and respect one another. Two photographic visions that don't try to resemble each other, but recognize one another. 

A conversation that continues.

In my photography, love and family are expressed through deep human connections; the home represents stories of belonging, while the sea symbolizes both the challenges and hopes of those who leave, as well as our collective memory and identity- a crossroads of peoples and explorers. Photographing with a Leica means engaging with the history of photography, with a tradition 

that has seen some of the greatest contemporary photographers at its forefront. It stands for precision, craftsmanship, and passion for detail. My SL2 is not just a tool but an extension of myself, a means through which I express my vision, with the aim of creating a visual memory through my photographic exploration-a true travel companion. 

- Roselena Ramistella

In 100 years of photography, Leica has produced a series of unforgettable images, capturing moments that have marked human history. Today, with a network of 29 Galleries worldwide, Leica continues to be a spokesperson for an international photographic culture, promoting knowledge of the many photographers who over the years have represented the world through a Leica, supporting both contemporary photography and the legacy of the great masters of the past.

On the occasion of the Leica I centenary, In Conversation is the result of a collective collaboration between all those involved in the project, which began over a year ago. A shared effort that fully reflects the essence of the exhibition, dedicated to Italy not just as a geographical place, but as an identity shaped through relationships. Collaboration is the foundation of every meaningful connection, just as authentic communication lies at the heart of a true dialogue between perspectives. The photographs of Roselena Ramistella and Gianni Berengo Gardin are its clearest expression: two distinct visions that meet and listen to each other. In this sense, Leica -today as one hundred years ago - is not just a tool but a witness to time and history, capable of preserving and revealing what makes our way of seeing truly human.

- Giada Triola, Leica Galerie Milano Coordinator

Gianni Berengo Gardin (Santa Margherita Ligure, 1930) is considered one of the most important Italian photographers. After living in Rome, Venice, Lugano, and Paris, he settled in Milan in 1965, where he began his professional career focused on reportage, social investigation, architecture, and environmental documentation. He has collaborated with major Italian and international publications but has mainly focused on books, publishing over 260 photography volumes. He has held more than 360 solo exhibitions and participated in Photokina in Cologne, Expo Montreal 1967, Expo Milan 2015, the Venice Biennale, and the exhibition "The Italian Metamorphosis, 1943-1968" at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. With the support of FAI, he exhibited his impactful reportage on cruise ships in Venice in Milan (2014) and Venice (2015). His many awards include: the Prix Brassai in Paris (1990), Leica Oskar Barnack Award in Arles (1995), Lucie Award for Lifetime Achievement (2008), Kapuscinski Award for reportage (2014), and the Leica Hall of Fame Award (2017). His works are part of prestigious collections, including the Central Institute for Graphics and MAXXI in Rome, MoMA in New York, the Bibliotheque Nationale and the Maison Europeenne de la Photographie in Paris, Musee de l'Elysee in Lausanne, and Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid.

Roselena Ramistella (Gela, 1982) is a photographer with a background in political science. Her photographic narratives focus on social themes, portraiture, human-nature interaction, fashion, and documentary. She explores these areas with a personal, intimate gaze, constantly experimenting with new techniques to shape her own narrative and artistic style. Her work has received national and international recognition: in 2018 she won the Sony Award in the "Natural World & Wildlife" category, and her work has been exhibited in many solo and group shows in Italy and abroad. She has photographed for major publications such as the New York Times, Der Spiegel, Vogue, Internazionale, Brandeins, la Repubblica, L'Espresso, Suddeutsche Zeitung, marieclaire, L'Uomo Vogue, Die Zeit, NZZ, Financial Times, and Stern. She is a Leica ambassador and tutor at Leica Academy.

100 years of Leica: Witness to a century

In 2025, Leica Camera AG is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Leica I. First presented to the public at the Leipzig Spring Fair in 1925, it was the first 35mm camera to be mass-produced and exceeded all expectations. Thanks to its compact and handy format, it opened up completely new photographic applications. Under the motto ‘100 Years of Leica: Witness to a Century’, Leica Camera AG is celebrating this camera that revolutionised the world of photography around the globe. At international events organised by the Leica country organisations in the major cities of Dubai, Milan, New York, Shanghai and Tokyo, cultural projects and extraordinary special product editions will be presented throughout the year. The highlight of the celebrations is the anniversary week at the company's headquarters in Wetzlar in June. In addition, there will be high-calibre exhibitions in the worldwide network of Leica Galleries with works by outstanding photographers.

Contact Details

Giada Triola
PR & Event Manager
Leica Galerie Milano Coordinator
giada.triola@leica-camera.com
+39 334 673 5113