In the shadow of historical relics, Museo Leone in Vercelli was momentarily transformed into a modern temple of photographic art with the opening of the “Kouros” exhibition. Leading this artistic rite was the lens of Salvatore Giò Gagliano and the spirit of model Marco Canella.
The exhibition unfolds in a dialogue between two expressive modes: the fleshiness of color and the contemplation of black and white. The color photographs, displayed in the Hall of Hercules, speak the language of today—a language you can almost feel with your fingertips. It’s the texture of skin, the palpability of emotions, the vulnerability of existence that challenges the lens to capture every nuance of resilience and passion. The heroism of Hercules echoes in Canella’s photographs: like the ancient hero, he too faces and overcomes his trials—not twelve, but personal and equally arduous.
Then there is the eloquent silence of black and white. These images, scattered throughout the museum’s historic rooms, possess an austere beauty, sculpted in lights and shadows that hark back to classical ideals. They are timeless icons, which, like ancient statues stripped of their vibrant colors, capture the unchanging essence of beauty. The soft light and calculated shadow in these works bestow Marco with an almost mythological dignity, transforming him from subject to symbol of an aesthetic that transcends centuries.
The decision to place the color works in the room dedicated to Hercules, the emblem of strength and action, is itself a stroke of genius. The photographs capture the intensity of Canella’s experiences, a powerful physicality that speaks of struggle and overcoming, of pain transformed into strength—themes that resonate deeply in the space dedicated to the deity of superhuman feats.
In a play of spaces and meanings, “Kouros” becomes not just an exhibition, but a narrative that navigates between the temporality of color and the timelessness of black and white. Gagliano invites us to read a story—not only Marco’s but also our own tales of battles won and ongoing challenges.
This is an exhibition worth visiting, not only for the undeniable artistic value of the works displayed but also for the emotional experience it promises to offer. “Kouros” is a hymn to beauty, a demonstration of how humanity, even in the face of adversity, can rise and become art.
