IO, NOI: portraits from the queer frontier.

Rome, April 8, 2025

In the context of an ongoing synergy between Accademia Italiana and the cultural fabric of the San Lorenzo neighborhood, the photographic exhibition “IO, NOI” is born, scheduled from April 11 to May 4, 2025 at the bar.lina exhibition and research center, with opening Friday, April 11 at 6:30 p.m.

This collective exhibition project, the result of the collaboration between the two entities and the talents of second-year photography students from Accademia Italiana, supervised by lecturer Tania Alineri, is fully in line with the queer cultural vision that challenges binary and normative paradigms, exploring concepts of fluid identity.

Through a series of black-and-white portraits, students captured the essence of artists who have chosen to show themselves without filters, defying social conventions and embracing their authenticity. The images depict Emanuele Marchetti, Gianni Rauso “Gianorso”, Siren Deti and Olympia, four personalities who embody stories of courage and self-determination.

The “IO, NOI” project takes the form of an act of artistic resistance, in which portraiture becomes a tool for inclusion and valuing diversity. Each shot is an invitation to overcome barriers, to look beyond appearances and to recognize the beauty in everyone's stories. Black and white, with its symbolic power, strips the image of any superstructure, highlighting the soul of the people portrayed.

With this initiative, Accademia Italiana continues its path of promoting teaching that is strongly oriented toward research, artistic expression and the active participation of students in cultural production. “IO, NOI” is a project that weaves together education and social engagement, art and listening, reinforcing the Institute's vocation in supporting new generations of creative and creative people.

In dialogue with queer identity and the demands of the LGBTQIA+ community, the exhibition becomes a safe space where photography becomes a tool for self-determination. The project values inclusivity and representation as foundational acts of the creative process, offering a choral reflection on identity, belonging and visibility. The partnership with bar.lina consolidates Accademia Italiana's commitment to promoting cultural practices that interrogate the present and transform it into an opportunity for growth and awareness.