Berggruen Arts & Culture proudly presents Controfacciata, a solo exhibition by renowned German photographer Matthias Schaller (1965, Dillingen an der Donau), curated by Mario Codognato. Hosted at the Casa dei Tre Oci—the Venetian headquarters of the Berggruen Institute Europe—the exhibition is open to the public until November 23, 2025.
On display are 28 photographs from Schaller’s Controfacciata series, a project initiated in 2004 and now expanded with several previously unseen works created specifically for this occasion. At the heart of this visual journey is the Venetian “controfacciata”—the internal façade opposite the main entrance in noble floors of historic palazzi—a subtle yet meaningful architectural detail deeply rooted in the city’s built heritage.
Schaller approaches this element not through traditional architectural photography, but with a poetic gaze. His compositions capture the quiet dialogue between interior spaces and the ever-changing lagoon light filtering through windows. Reflections, shadows, and textures give the images an almost metaphysical quality, transforming these interior views into contemplative “still lifes.”
Far from static documentation, the photographs express a lyrical exploration of time, presence, and memory. The palaces become meditative spaces where the boundaries between inside and outside, light and structure, dissolve into pure visual emotion. In this way, Schaller offers a unique and symbolic lens on Venice—where architecture mirrors the fragility and beauty of human experience.
Controfacciata is not just an exhibition; it’s a visual meditation on the essence of Venice itself.
Website: www.berggruenarts.org
Location: Casa dei Tre Oci, Venice
Schedule: until November 23, 2025
