The access of big cruise ships into Venice has been subject of harsh debate and increasing criticism for a long time now. A ban on large ships entering the San Marco Basin, an obvious solution for many people, is opposed by some local business owners and, above all, by the cruise industry.

Behind this dispute there are actually two opposed visions of traveling and culture: the crowds of tourists, pouring out from cruise ships into Riva degli Schiavoni for a hasty journey of Venice, have nothing to do with quality traveling; a sort of magmatic mass indifferent to both the city and any cultural experience other than a quick visit to San Marco square.

cover image: courtesy of La Stampa.

Top: The Olivetti store in St. Mark’s Square designed by Carlo Scarpa. Bottom: Gianni Berengo Gardin – Venice and the Big Ships, Installation view, photo from Artribune

It is also for these reasons that we suggest the exhibition “ Gianni Berengo Gardin – Venice and the Big Ships”, on view in the Olivetti Store on San Marco Square until January 2016.

In 30 monochrome photographs made from 2013 to 2014, the Italian photographer depicts the incessant cruise ships ship traffic across the Venice Lagoon and highlights the devastating impact these oversized floating giants have on a extremely fragile environment which should be carefully protected, instead.

Photos by Gianni Berengo Gardin, courtesy Fondazione Forma per la Fotografia

Gianni Berengo Gardin

Venice and the Big Ships

Venice, Olivetti Store, San Marco Square 101

from October 22, 2015 to January 6, 2016

Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10.00 AM – 8.30 PM

FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano, in collaboration with and Contrasto.

more info: http://www.formafoto.it/2015/09/gianni-berengo-gardin-venezia-e-le-grandi-navi-in-mostra-a-venezia-dal-22-ottobre/

Two photos by Gianni Berengo Gardin, courtesy Fondazione Forma per la Fotografia, and a portrait of him