Juergen Teller. 7 ½

To quote curator Mario Codognato: "Juergen Teller is undoubtedly one of the most important artists of his generation and one of the greatest innovators of photographic language, not only in the field of fashion, but of the entire creative application of this medium. The inclusion of the commonplace, the instantaneous freezing of every imaginable situation, have pre-empted the aesthetics of social media and clearly and inexorably influenced recent generations in the field of photography".

Ezio Zani, Head of the Sabbioneta Heritage Foundation, notes that "the journey embarked upon by Sabbioneta last year is now enriched by the opportunity to host the work of another outstanding artist, free and visionary, who places man, shown in the multitude of his expressions, at the centre of his investigation and vision. A man immersed in history, in everyday life, captured with a piercing sincerity that eschews all lyrical construction and repudiates every attempt at affectation. By hosting Juergen Teller, with this very personal project, which features a layout that is sure to astound visitors, Sabbioneta confirms its vocation as a great and exclusive container and stage for the most accredited international art".

"With the exhibition dedicated to Juergen Teller, one of the most influential and provocative photographers on the contemporary scene, Sabbioneta confirms its role not only as a treasure trove of Renaissance history and beauty, but also as a lively and vibrant stage for international culture" says Barbara Mazzali, Councillor for Tourism, Territorial Marketing, Fashion and Major Events of the Lombardy Region. "This world-class event is a valuable opportunity to further enhance the cultural identity of Sabbioneta, which, along with Mantua, is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and now also opens up with courage and vision to the languages of contemporary art. The interaction between Teller's genius and the architectural elegance of the Little Athens of the Gonzaga family creates a visual and emotional short-circuit that enriches the visitor experience and enhances the area's tourist appeal. Lombardy continues to invest in a cultural model capable of combining heritage protection, innovation and quality tourism. I would like to thank the Sabbioneta Foundation for its ability to imagine and implement projects that breathe new life into one of the symbolic places of our historical and aesthetic identity".

Marco Pasquali, Mayor of Sabbioneta, says: "The path chosen by the Sabbioneta Heritage Foundation aims to confirm Sabbioneta as a place capable of merging ancient and modern, Renaissance and contemporary. With Juergen Teller, our Palazzo Giardino is going to offer the thousands of visitors who habitually choose the Ideal City of Sabbioneta, a unique experience made up of wonder and genius. Concepts that were very clear to the founder of our town, Vespasiano Gonzaga Colonna, and which are now brought back to life in the World Heritage Site that is Sabbioneta".

Gianni Fava, Chairman of the Sabbioneta Heritage Foundation, draws attention to the added value that the exhibition brings to the territory: "We are proud to host Juergen Teller in Sabbioneta for this extraordinary exhibition, which aligns perfectly with our mission of enhancing historical heritage through the language of contemporary art. With his direct and uncompromising gaze, Juergen Teller brings a new and daring vision to spaces steeped in history: Palazzo Giardino, with the majesty of the Galleria degli Antichi and the elegance of the Sala degli Specchi, becomes the ideal stage for interaction between past and present, offering itself to visitors as a venue for an unprecedented and fascinating experience. This exhibition also represents an important opportunity for the territory, inviting institutions, residents and local organisations to come together, with confidence, and actively engage in a broad-ranging cultural project capable of generating value and new prospects for Sabbioneta. I would like to thank all those who have already chosen to embrace the challenge and also those who would like to join us".

Juergen Teller (born in Erlangen, Germany, in 1964) studied at the Bayerische Staatslehranstalt für Photographie in Munich, before relocating to London in 1986. His work transcends photographic genres, combining fashion, advertising, biography and documentation in a sharp visual synthesis. He has shot campaigns for numerous luxury brands, as well as editorials for major art and fashion publications. In 2003, Juergen Teller received the Citibank Prize for Photography from the Photographers' Gallery in London and, in 2018, the Special Presentation Infinity Award from the International Center of Photography in New York. His work has been exhibited internationally, with solo shows at the Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain, Paris (2006), Dallas Contemporary, Texas (2011), the Daelim Museum, Seoul (2011), the Institute of Contemporary Art, London (2013), the DESTE Foundation, Athens (2014), the Bundeskunsthalle, Bonn (2016), Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin (2017), the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, Moscow (2018), T-10/SKP-S, Beijing (2021), Grand Palais Éphémère, Paris (2023) and Triennale Milan (2024). In 2007, he was invited to represent Ukraine as one of the five artists selected for the 52nd Venice Biennale. Teller's photographs have been acquired by numerous international collections, including the Musée du Louvre, Centre Pompidou and the Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain in Paris, the International Center for Photography in New York and the National Portrait Gallery in London. Teller has published over 60 books and was Professor of Photography at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste Nürnberg from 2014 to 2019.

The Sabbioneta Foundation was established in June 2022 and represents a project in keeping with the most advanced Italian and international experiences in the management and promotion of artistic and monumental heritage. A third sector organisation, it is a participatory foundation under private law. Since 2023 it has been managing a single museum system of the Sabbioneta UNESCO World Heritage Site, entrusted to it by the Municipality, the Pro Loco and the Parish of Sabbioneta, which intend to act with a view to optimising resources, maximising efficiency and employing best practices in the management, development and promotion of the territory and its outstanding historical, artistic and cultural wealth. The main aim of the Foundation is a progressive international positioning of Vespasiano Gonzaga's Ideal City as a creator of culture, by means of an articulated programme of functional modernisation, technological innovation worksites, participatory workshops, exhibitions, artistic and musical events, and study and research initiatives.

7 ½ is made possible thanks to public bodies, foundations and private sponsors. The exhibition is organized with the patronage and with the support of the Lombardy Region, with the patronage of the Municipality of Sabbioneta and Fondazione della Comunità Mantovana. Main sponsors are Gruppo Tea and Panguaneta Spa, in collaboration with which the exhibition set-up was realised. Gruppo Tea Chairman Massimiliano Ghizzi explains: 'Enhancing the territory, also by supporting culture, is a fundamental element of our mission. For us, investing in culture means supporting the growth, beauty and usability of the places we inhabit'. The Managing Director of Panguaneta, Nicoletta Azzi, in her turn emphasises: 'We are very proud to be sponsors and technical partners of this extraordinary event; our company has always had a deep bond with the territory and with the value of culture, and to see our materials dialoguing with art in such a prestigious space is for us a source of great satisfaction. Sponsors of the exhibition are also Fondazione Banca Agricola Mantovana, Gruppo Saviola, BCC Rivarolo Mantovano, Econord Spa, LBM 1911, Bottoli Costruzioni, Econord, Linea Light, Lorca, ortofrutticola, Sta, Sarzi Lamiere e De Simoni.