Sospesi: Jacopo Di Cera and Massimo Vitali unveil Italy’s suspended identity at MIA Photo Fair 2025

From March 20 to 23, 2025, the MIA Photo Fair in Milan will showcase Sospesi, an intriguing project by Jacopo Di Cera and Massimo Vitali, curated by Serena Tabacchi. This show, which initially launched in the historic Via Margutta at Maison Bosi in Rome, continues its exploration of Italian identity through a dynamic combination of large-scale images, video loops, and audiovisual installations.

Jacopo Di Cera is an artist whose work transcends conventional photography. His early projects gained him recognition as a National Geographic finalist in 2010.

In 2016, Di Cera introduced Photomaterism, an artistic method that transforms photography into a tangible experience. By combining images with physical materials, he creates works that stimulate multiple senses, providing a counterbalance to the digital overload of contemporary life. His projects, such as Fino alla Fine Del Mare (2016) focusing on migration and Il Rumore dell'Assenza (2019) addressing the Amatrice earthquake, have been displayed internationally and praised for their emotional resonance and innovative approaches.

The artist’s current endeavor, Italian Summer, employs drone photography to explore the social dynamics surrounding Italian vacations, further establishing his status as a masterful visual storyteller. 

For the first time in Milan, Jacopo Di Cera together with Massimo Vitali will present their vision of an Italy suspended between past and future, between iconic locations and lived-in spaces, individuality and community, the everyday and the extraordinary.

At the core of Sospesi lies the concept of suspension, masterfully brought to life through the contrasting yet complementary visions of the artists. Di Cera’s aerial perspective offers a bird’s-eye view that flattens the scene, dissolving visual hierarchies and presenting Italy as if frozen in time. This approach creates a sense of timelessness, inviting viewers to observe the country from a detached, almost meditative vantage point. In contrast, Vitali’s immersive, ground-level photography delves into the intricate details of everyday life, capturing the density and dynamism of human interactions. Together, these two perspectives weave a rich, multifaceted narrative of a nation in constant evolution.

The journey spans iconic locations such as Rosignano and other symbolic sites, where the interplay between landscape, individuality, and community is vividly highlighted. Through this dual lens, Sospesi captures the physical essence of Italy and explores the emotional and social layers that define its identity.

Sospesi is a profound reflection on the suspended nature of Italian identity. By examining everyday life through the lens of stasis and movement, the project challenges viewers to reconsider the dynamics of shared spaces and human connections. Photography, in this context, transcends its role as mere documentation, becoming a powerful tool for social analysis. Di Cera and Vitali’s work captures the complexities of contemporary Italy, revealing a nation caught between tradition and modernity, individuality and community.

With its arrival at MIA Photo Fair in Milan, Sospesi invites viewers to pause, reflect, and see Italy—and themselves—in a new light.