From Sept. 16, the Ferrara Pavilion of Contemporary Art is hosting the exhibition In Fellini’s world. Franco Pinna set photographer. Organized by the Art Museum Service of the Municipality of Ferrara, Fondazione Ferrara Arte and Errata Corrige, the exhibition presents more than 140 photographs, posters, magazines, photobooks, drawings and other period materials from the Franco Pinna Archive in Rome, which is responsible not only for the scientific direction but also for the exhibition project designed specifically for PAC. One of the greatest Italian photographers of the second half of the 20th century, Franco Pinna (1925-1978) was an arguably unparalleled witness in images of Fellini’s sets. He began to associate with the director during the preparation of the Road, following him later in the filming of Juliet of the spirits, Toby Dammit, A Director’s Notebook/Block–director’s notes, Fellini Satyricon, Clowns, Rome, Amarcord, Federico Fellini’s Casanova, almost always as a freelancer. “With Pinna,” Fellini declared in 1988, “I was sure that I would have the most correct and faithful documentation of what I was doing, […] faithful and personal witness at the same time of what is the environment of a set, the reality of cinema in its making.” This is why, between 1964 and 1977, it was mainly his photographs that anticipated and accompanied the release of Fellini’s films in national and international magazines, and also in television broadcasts.
The main itinerary of the exhibition follows an order by film, flanking it with a specific section on the director and a short anthology on Pinna’s production outside the Fellini sphere. Among the materials on display, some of which are well-known (for example, the series with Fellini in makeup as clown, 1970), others little known or unpublished, also some curiosities such as Fellini’s two photographic directions for two special issues of “Vogue” and “Playboy.” Unmissable are Fellini’s drawings, one of them, rather scurrilous according to the author’s most authentic taste, dedicated to Pinna. The exhibition also includes an audiovisual with period excerpts showing the photographer in action following the director, as well as special photoprojections on the film Rome.
Exhibition, In Fellini’s world. Franco Pinna set photographer , to be understood as a valuable, fascinating introductory chapter to an endless subject that still has so much to reveal.
Organizers
Art Museum Service of the City of Ferrara, Ferrara Art Foundation and Errata Corrige, Bologna
