Minor Islands: Notes on Photography from 1990 to Today
The Civic Museums of Cagliari and the MAN Museum of Art of the Province of Nuoro present 'Minor Islands: Notes on Photography from 1990 to Today,' a major photography exhibition held between Nuoro and Cagliari, which brings together sixteen projects by international authors on the theme of representing the island from the beginning of the new century to the present day.
THE EXHIBITION
The exhibition presents sixteen projects by international authors on the theme of representing Sardinia from the beginning of the new century to the present day, examining not only the geographical dimension of the island but also the cultural and social dimensions expressed in the idea of isolation.
Through the photographs of established masters, mid-career authors, and emerging young talents, the exhibition path unfolds between the MAN and the Municipal Art Gallery of Cagliari to highlight how the representation of the island has changed in recent decades, revealing an exit from the rhetoric that characterized previous narratives, as well as a persistence of myths, ideologies, and elements of subalternity. The exhibition addresses different themes, from the growing presence of tourism and its consequences, to the living conditions of new generations, from traces of the past and recent history to poetic reinterpretations of traditions, communities, and territory.
In addition to the variety of subjects covered, the exhibition also highlights the plurality of contemporary photographic languages, ranging from revisiting documentary to staged performance specifically constructed for photography, as well as the melding of words and images and performance, in a continuous shift of perspectives and interpretations.
THE AUTHORS
At the Municipal Art Gallery of Cagliari, four authors share a common interest in the relationship between photography and literature, providing further interpretation and formalization of themes such as interpersonal relationships, based on the readings of Sergio Atzeni's stories. The unpublished work of Arianna Arcara (2025) and Karla Hiraldo Voleau's exploration of Generation Z through the legacy of Pasolini's Comizi d'amore (2023) are also featured. Luca Spano's world-building between imagination and documentation (2020-2021) draws inspiration from the literary experience of DH Lawrence. The theme of travel and new interpretations of the territory can be seen in Francois Xavier Gbré's works, showcasing the new social and economic configuration following migration phenomena and their consequences.
