Mimmo Jodice, one of Italy’s most important photographers and among the leading exponents of avant-garde photography, has died at age 91. With his work he redefined the language of photography, going beyond mere documentation to investigate the conceptual and poetic dimension of the image. Born in Naples in 1934, Jodice was a privileged witness to the cultural and social transformation of the 20th century, capable of combining the rigorous gaze of the photographer with the analytical intensity of the artist.
As Ansa reports, Jodice’s approach to photography was born in the 1950s, in an Italy still marked by war but crossed by new creative ferments. From his first experiments, the author shows that he perceives the camera as a means to interrogate reality and time. The 1960s represented for him the period of artistic maturation and the encounter with the Neapolitan avant-garde scene, animated by figures such as Lucio Amelio, a gallery owner and patron who would play a decisive role in promoting his work. It was thanks to Amelio that Jodice came into contact with some of the most important protagonists of international contemporary art. He collaborates with Andy Warhol, Sol LeWitt, Joseph Beuys, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Jannis Kounellis and Alberto Burri, sharing with them a research ground that goes beyond the distinction between languages. Photography, in his hands, becomes an integral part of a broader visual discourse that dialogues with painting, sculpture and installation.
Throughout his career, Jodice has developed an unmistakable poetics, characterized by a skillful use of black and white, a rigorous attention to composition and an almost metaphysical sense of suspended time. Naples, Rome, the Mediterranean become places of the soul, scenarios where the present and the past meet in a fragile and poignant balance. His urban photography, often devoid of human figures, returns a dimension of silence and stillness that invites contemplation. Throughout his career, Jodice has published numerous photographic volumes, which have become landmarks for scholars and enthusiasts. Among the best known is Mediterraneo, a visual journey between the shores of Mare Nostrum. While recognized as a master, Jodice has always maintained a discreet and rigorous attitude, far from the drifts of artistic protagonism. His photography has remained faithful to a principle of truth and silence, in which light becomes voice and form takes on symbolic value. Over the course of more than sixty years of activity, his work has helped redefine the role of photography in the contemporary art scene, paving the way for new generations of authors to engage with his legacy.
Here is an in-depth look at the photographer’s work: Mimmo Jodice: 10 key points for getting to know the great photographer.
 |
| Farewell to Mimmo Jodice, master of avant-garde photography |
Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.
