Olivo Barbieri
Olivo Barbieri, one of the most innovative photographers internationally, explores the boundary between reality and representation, between the imagined and the reproduced world, questioning the very act of seeing.
The life, the main photographs and the unmissable exhibitions of the photographer Olivo Barbieri.
Biography of Olivo Barbieri
Olivo Barbieri (Carpi – Modena, 1954) studied Education and Drama, Art and Music Studies in Bologna, developing an interest in photography in 1971. One of his first series was Flippers (1977-1978), exhibited at the Galleria Civica in Modena. In 1984 he participated in Viaggio in Italia, a seminal exhibition of Italian photography.
In the 80s he began a series on artificial lighting in European and Oriental cities, publishing Notte (1991) and Illuminazioni artificiali (1995). From 1989 he travelled constantly in China, developing a research project – still in progress – on the themes of the great changes taking place and their representation, publishing works such as Appunti di viaggio in Cina (1989) and Paesaggi in miniatura (1991). In 1996, the Folkwang Museum in Essen dedicated him a first retrospective.
In the mid-90s he experimented with a photographic technique that allowed him to focus on just a few points in the picture, publishing Virtual Truths (2001).
The artist's projects, awards and prizes
In 2003, he launched site specific_, a project studying the shape of fifty contemporary metropolises and towns, publishing site specific_03-13 with Aperture in 2013. He has created several photographic and film series (2003–2017), including Parks (2006-2015) Real Words (2008–2013), Images (1978–2007), Virtual Truths (1996–2002) and Artificial Illuminations (1980-2014), reflecting in the perception of reality. With Davide Quadrio, he created site specific_SHANGHAI 04, photographs and film.
In 2006, he participated in the Seville Biennial with the film SEVILLA –› (∞) 06. In 2010, he created Dolomites Project for the MART in Trento and Rovereto. In 2015, he exhibited ERSATZ LIGHT case study #1 east west at the Festival of European Photography in Reggio Emilia, and at the MAXXI in Rome, he exhibited Images 1998 – 2014 and the film La Città Perfetta in a retrospective.
Two films from the site specific_ series (site specific_LAS VEGAS 05 and SEVILLA –› (∞) 06) are part of the collection of the MoMA in New York. His works are on show in museums and collections in Europe, China and the United States.
Where the photographs by Olivo Barbieri were exhibited
The Gallerie d'Italia – Turin presented, from 20 February to 7 September 2025, the exhibition "Olivo Barbieri. Spazi Altri" presents for the first time, with many unpublished photographs, a comprehensive overview of the research that Olivo Barbieri has dedicated to China, over a period of more than thirty years.
The exhibition is a new chapter in the project "La Grande Fotografia Italiana" curated by Roberto Koch, which began in 2022 with the exhibition of Lisetta Carmi (Suonare Forte), continued in 2023 with Mimmo Jodice (Senza Tempo), in 2024 with Antonio Biasiucci (Arca) and in 2025 with Olivo Barbieri (Spazi Altri).
Olivo Barbieri exhibition at the Gallerie d'Italia - Torino
20 February 2025 - 7 September 2025
From 20 February to 7 September 2025, the exhibition of the photographer Olivo Barbieri, curated by Corrado Benigni, was held. The exhibition is a new chapter in the project "La Grande Fotografia Italiana" curated by Roberto Koch. The work, designed specifically for the spaces of the Gallerie d'Italia – Turin, presents for the first time, with many unpublished photographs, an organic synthesis of the research that Olivo Barbieri has dedicated to China, over a period of more than thirty years. Divided into three sections, it presents over 150 works, including large triptychs, polyptychs and two large picture galleries.
