Sebastião Salgado's Amazônia exhibition in Trieste: A Visual Journey Through the Heart of the Brazilian Rainforest

Salgado's Photographic Journey and Conservation Crusade

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As my journey through Italy drew to a close, one final destination awaited: the enchanting city of Trieste, where an extraordinary spectacle awaited me – the Amazonia exhibition by the renowned photographer Sebastião Salgado. Tucked away in the vibrant cultural landscape of Trieste, this exhibition promised to be a captivating immersion into the heart of the Amazon rainforest. With eager anticipation, I embarked on this final leg of my Italian adventure, ready to be transported into the mesmerizing world captured through Salgado's lens.

As a fervent admirer of Sebastião Salgado's captivating photographic narratives, the opportunity to delve into his Amazonia exhibition was an irresistible summons. Initially unveiled at the Philharmonie de Paris in 2021 amidst the challenges of a pandemic-ridden world, the exhibition embarked on a triumphant journey through Italy, gracing the cities of Rome and Milan in 2023 before finally landing in Trieste in 2024, beckoning me from Venice to immerse myself in its awe-inspiring depths.

Nestled at the docks of Trieste lies the “Salone degli Incanti,” the distinguished venue for Salgado's magnum opus. It was within these hallowed halls that I found myself, brimming with anticipation, ready to embark on a visual odyssey through the heart of the Brazilian Amazon. Curated with finesse by Lélia Wanick Salgado, the exhibition endeavors to envelop visitors in the embrace of the forest, unveiling its vibrant flora and the daily rhythms of indigenous life. Through Salgado's discerning lens, attendees are transported into the very core of the Amazon, offered glimpses of its lush landscapes and the resilient existence of its indigenous inhabitants. The interplay between sweeping vistas and poignant portraits weaves a narrative that underscores both the ecological grandeur and the human essence of this imperiled ecosystem.

“In creating ‘Amazônia,’ I aimed to construct an environment where the visitor feels immersed in the forest, integrated with its lush vegetation and the daily life of indigenous populations. My idea was to present these images, accompanied by relevant texts, to emphasize the beauty of this nature and its inhabitants, as well as its ecological and human dimension, all of which are so threatened today and essential to protect and preserve.” Lélia Wanick Salgado

Salgado: A Visual Maestro