Overview
Berggruen Arts & Culture is pleased to present to the public the exhibition Controfacciata by German photographer Matthias Schaller (1965, Dillingen an der Donau), curated by Mario Codognato. Held at the Casa dei Tre Oci, the Venetian venue of the Berggruen Institute Europe, the exhibition brings together 28 photographs from the Controfacciata series, started in 2004, many of which are unpublished and created specifically for this occasion.
The exhibition, open from April 5th to November 23rd 2025, celebrates Schaller's unique photographic approach to the taxonomic representation of an architectural element typical of Venice: the controfacciata, which characterizes the noble floors of the city's historic buildings. However, his images should not be seen as mere architectural views, but rather as poetic compositions that unite interior and exterior, transforming the photographed environments into metaphysical still lifes. The Venetian buildings reveal interiors that engage with the soft light and the reflections of the lagoon’s waters, creating a powerful symbolism between the urban landscape and human existence.
