The Italian Cultural Institute of Paris is presenting a major photography exhibition titled "Seeing the Heart of Humans" by acclaimed photographer Lia Pasqualino, running through January 30, 2026. Pasqualino, a committed photographer and student of renowned Italian photographer Letizia Battaglia, explores the emotional landscapes of human experience through her distinctive photographic approach.
In describing her artistic philosophy, Pasqualino reflects on the deep connection between her childhood experiences and her photographic vision. "I realized that, without wanting to, when I photograph, I confront the emotional landscape I knew when I was a child," she explains. "I look for moments where one can glimpse, in a fortuitous combination of elements, a certain inner reflection." This approach reveals her commitment to capturing not just external appearances but the inner emotional states of her subjects.
Pasqualino's work demonstrates a unique ability to uncover profound moments of human connection and introspection. She describes a pivotal moment in her artistic development: "The goose of Piazza Magione appeared before me one afternoon, many years ago, but I think that in reality, it came out of the image repository of the Palermo buried within me." This observation highlights how her personal history and memories inform her artistic vision, creating a bridge between past experiences and present artistic expression.
The photographer's portrait work encompasses both celebrated figures and unknown individuals, treating each subject with equal attention to their inner life. "Even in portraits, I wait for the inner gaze of the person I have in front of me to reveal itself," Pasqualino notes. "This happened to me with Jeanne Moreau, with Emir Kusturica, with Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi, with Anna Mouglalis, and with so many people whose names I don't know, encountered on the street or in a psychiatric hospital."
Pasqualino's methodology involves a patient approach to capturing authentic human moments. "I draw from the evanescent warehouse that hides within me, but I know how to patiently wait for the moment when, in the subject I have before me, a silent dialogue with himself manifests," she explains. This technique allows her to capture what she describes as "that particular tonality of the gaze, turned more inward than outward," which has become her fundamental measure of humanity.
The exhibition is housed at the Italian Cultural Institute located in the historic Hôtel de Galliffet at 50 rue de Varenne in Paris's 7th arrondissement, with free admission available to all visitors. Accompanying the exhibition is a comprehensive catalog featuring texts by notable contributors including Antonio Calbi, Giovanna Calvenzi, Gabriel Bauret, Roberto Andò, Ferdinando Scianna, and Tommaso Montanari, published by Dario Cimorelli editore in 2025. Additional information about the exhibition and related programming is available through the institute's website at www.iicparigi.esteri.it.
