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.
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@Gianni Berengo Gardin
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@Gianni Berengo Gardin
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.
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@Roselena Ramistella
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@Roselena Ramistella
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@Roselena Ramistella
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
About the Artists:
Roselena Ramistella
Born in 1982 in Sicily, the Italian contemporary photographer engages primarily with social, humanistic and cultural subject matter. She studied photography and communication and has worked in a national and global context. Her work has gone on display at numerous exhibitions – both individual and group shows and at photography festivals. Her photographs have appeared in various publications, including National Geographic, Internazionale and Marie Claire. Her homeland acts as a common thread that combines all these narratives in one visual story and celebrates the richness of social and cultural experience.
Gianni Berengo Gardin
Born on 10 October 1930 in Santa Margherita Ligure, the photographer started out in the 1950s, taking inspiration from Henri Cartier-Bresson. He focused mostly on humanist photography in a reportage style, with a particular emphasis on life in Italy. He worked for renowned magazines such as Il Mondo, L’Espresso and Domus. Berengo Gardin always took an analogue approach, working in black and white. Over his career, he published over 250 photo books. He remains one of the most important photographers of the 20th century.
Leica Gallery Milano
Via Mengoni 4 (on the corner of piazza del Duomo)
20121 Milan
Włochy
Sunday and Monday: Closed