An exhibition by Matteo Luciani.
Stretching for 406 km, the course of the Tiber crosses Italy, passing through four regions, giving rise to an extraordinary biodiversity and landscapes of rare beauty. Matteo Luciani walked the distance, backpack on his shoulders and with his faithful dog Spillo by his side. He is a young ecobiologist and nature photographer who has collected his shots in a book, later transformed into an exhibition, which contains the story of a three-year journey of discovery along the river. Through a mix of images and words, Matteo recounts a Tiber that is different and authentic at the same time, far from the common perception that sees it as a symbol of degradation and abandonment. A Tiber that you do not expect. From its source amid the beech woods of Mount Fumaiolo, where it begins its journey as a small watercourse flowing from the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines down towards Tuscany, the river continues on to Umbria, becoming slower and more powerful. Advancing majestically along variously characterised land areas, it crosses the wild Forello gorges and "takes a great aesthetic revenge" before entering Lazio where, passing through the Eternal City, it flows on down to the sea. Something of a travel report and diary all in one, the story runs on two parallel planes: an exterior journey that leads to the discovery of wonderful places inhabited by extraordinary 'characters', and a journey within oneself, guided by the river, a metaphor of human existence with all its roughness and difficulties, with its moments of poignant beauty and melancholy, with its sudden changes of course, and with its unexpected surprises. In the end, Matteo gives us a Tiber that does not exist in the collective imagination and that can only be discovered if we are willing to open our eyes, our minds and our hearts. A Tiber that once known, you cannot help but LOVE and RESPECT. The trailer was made by Matteo Luciani to promote the project. The photographs were selected from over 150 contained in the book Tiberis. L'altra faccia del Tevere by Matteo Luciani, published by Pandion. The book has recently been transformed into an exhibition, curated by Gina Ingrassia, staged from 16 July to 4 September 2022 at the WeGil in Rome, promoted by the Lazio Region and organised by LAZIOcrea with the Regional Environment Department, the artistic direction of Inmagina and the coordination of Comediarting.
