Giovanni Ambrosio’s biography and statement
Work
My body of work spans photography, minimalist painting, gesture, papers, printmaking, objects, writing, found footage, video, performance writing, field recording, and music. I aim to work beyond the constraints of any single discipline, continually moving across boundaries.
Photography is cheaper than neon and always adaptable
Photography—digital photography, adaptable and readily accessible—acts as a unifying medium, gathering diverse elements into layered, sedimented works. Shifting between genres is essential to my practice; a series of still lives, for instance, may hold a documentary purpose. Photography also serves as an investigative tool in the performative and theatrical fields, shaped by the question: “How do I archive a performance that is not mine?” This question drives my ongoing collaborations with artists, where photography transforms into an active, performative medium, creating new material as much as it documents.
Photography is central to my investigation of social phenomena, as evidenced in my series of works titled Argumenta. This body of work explores complex themes of migration, identity, and collective memory, revealing my commitment to visual storytelling that connects both personal and broader societal narratives.
Accumulation, Installation, Re-writing
I think of my practice as a kinI see my practice as a kind of score—a continual accumulation of materials I can rearrange, reuse, and reinterpret. This leads naturally to site-specific installations, where the environment plays an active role in shaping the work. Unframed papers, prints, and objects are key, allowing for movement, interaction, and reconfiguration by the audience. My series of works are organized under varied, flexible categories, some bearing titles in Latin or Ancient Greek, embodying the layered meanings I aim to evoke. This ambiguity reflects the conceptual depth I seek to convey.
Curatorial Practice
Curatorial practice is integral to my process. I continuously rewrite my archive, inviting other artists to explore my themes and developing curatorial projects that examine how my interests can resonate within other works and practices.
Printmaking and Digital Publishing
In recent years, I’ve ventured into printmaking, beginning with my residency at the Frans Masereel Centrum in Belgium in 2021. This experience has expanded my practice, integrating print-based techniques into my multidisciplinary work. Concurrently, I have engaged in digital book-making and industrial printing, often exploring materials typically associated with marketing and advertising.
Themes and Conceptual Exploration
Recurring themes in my work include erasure, the archive, archaeology, and the ability—or inability—of images to tell complex stories. I examine the migration of forms, ideas, and materials across time and space, drawn to the friction between erasure and preservation. My work is rooted in the intersection of personal memory and broader social currents, exploring the connections between individual experiences and the landscapes—both physical and political—that shape them
Educational and Academic Work.
In addition to my studio practice, I work in educational and academic settings, developing and leading workshops, masterclasses, and projects that explore the intersections of art, society, and theory. Since 2013, I have collaborated with dramaturg and researcher Loretta Mesiti on various research-driven initiatives. Our ongoing project, Science of Singularities, delves into how singularity arise within artistic and philosophical contexts. This work investigates the convergence of theory and practice.
Biography
Photographer and visual artist. Born in Naples, Italy, in 1978, I live in Paris and Naples.
Education and Early Artistic Development
I was first trained in documentary photography under Sergio De Benedetti at Nigma Fotografi School in Naples. Later, I studied photography and contemporary art at Université Paris 8 (2010), focusing on the relationship between text and photography.
I hold a Postgraduate Degree (DEA) in Cinema and Literature Studies from Université de Paris X and ENS Paris (2004). Under Professor Laurent Veray, I researched irregular Belgian cinema directors, honing my critical engagement with visual media. Prior to this, I completed a Master’s degree in Literature and Cinema at Università degli Studi di Napoli l’Orientale, where I explored Jan Bucquoy’s provocative cinema.
In addition to my formal studies, I expanded my skills through specialized masterclasses and workshops at institutions like Agence Vu’ and Noor Images, working with professionals such as Bruno Boudjelal, Pascal Philippe, Alixandra Fazzina, and Jean-Robert Dantou, focusing on photography and documentary practices.
Professional Experience
Before fully dedicating myself to a career in the arts in 2010, I worked extensively in education. From 2006 to 2008, I lectured on Italian literature and civilization at Université de Haute Bretagne Rennes 2, where I taught courses on Italian history through visual arts. This academic period allowed me to engage with complex social narratives and deepened my interest in visual storytelling.
In 2009, I transitioned into freelance visual communication design, collaborating extensively with artists and visual artists. These partnerships allowed me to merge my technical expertise with the creative process, often resulting in work that crosses the boundaries between visual communication and fine arts..
Research and Theoretical Exploration
Since 2013, I have been deeply involved in collaborative research with dramaturg and researcher Loretta Mesiti. Together, we developed a joint working table to analyze visual and written materials emerging from our creative processes. This collaboration began within Altofest, an international performing arts festival, and was formalized through the project (e)labOratorio (Bodman, Germany, 2015). It has since evolved into Table of Matters, a core part of the ALTEReurope project.
Our latest project, Science of Singularities (2022-), investigates how singular creative moments emerge in artistic and philosophical contexts, exploring the convergence of theory and practice.
Additionally, I collaborate with philosopher Luca Salza, contributing to platforms like K. Revue trans-européenne de philosophie et arts.
Research in Football Culture and Documentary Photography
From 2015 to 2017, I participated in the Mucem Marseille Football & Identities research program, exploring the socio-cultural significance of football. In collaboration with writer Sébastien Louis, I co-led Ultras Youth, a research project documenting Ultras football supporters in Arabic-speaking countries after the Arab Spring. This project combined photography with political and social inquiry, offering a nuanced exploration of fan culture and its intersections with broader political movements.ader political movements.
Printmaking and Digital Publishing
In recent years, I expanded my practice into printmaking, completing a residency at Frans Masereel Centrum (2021) and working at Port Side Graphics in Ghent. In 2022, I studied printmaking under Vittorio Avella and Giovanni Timpani. My engagement with printmaking allows me to integrate traditional techniques with contemporary narrative forms, enriching my multidisciplinary approach. Simultaneously, I have been actively involved in digital book-making and run the digital publishing house Arroz con Pollo.
Curatorial Work and Beyond
Since the early stages of my career, I have been involved in curatorial projects, starting with my role at Nigma Fotografi Gallery in Naples (1999-2001), where I curated the cultural program and managed the photography library. In 2009, I contributed to the Observer la Ville project, and in 2012, I co-founded Seminario Semina, presented at Art Verona. In 2013 and 2014 I was a member of Osservatorio Critico Altofest (a research and theoretical reflection group within the international performing arts festival Altofest). Since 2021, I have been collaborating with Vesuvio Adventures, directing community-based projects, and in 2023, I co-founded the Biennale del Vesuvio research group, focusing on public art. In 2018 I launched my on-going project Radical football fans archetypes in artist’s processes.
My works are in the collections of Mucem in Marseille, Mufoco in Milan, in the Frans Masereel Centrum in Belgium, in the Ecole Alain Ducasse Paris Campus.
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