La Citadelle in Villefranche-sur-Mer presents Le Cœur caché, an exhibition by Jean-Marc Caimi & Valentina Piccinni.
Under the overwhelming sky of the Côte d’Azur (French Riviera), between the shimmering reflections of the Mediterranean and the deep shadows of the mountains, one question arises: what lies beyond this light that fascinates and consumes everything? With The Hidden Heart, Jean-Marc Caimi and Valentina Piccinni invite us to explore the hidden side of the story, this territory both overexposed by the sun and saturated with clichéd images that hide its intimate reality.
For thirteen years, this Italian photography duo has been creating a body of work that straddles documentary and visual poetry. Their approach, imbued with humanity and curiosity, transcends the simple capture of images.
During two residencies, first at the Mougins Photography Center in December 2024, then at La Citadelle in Villefranche-sur-Mer in January 2025, Caimi and Piccinni delved into the hidden layers of this legendary territory.
From Fréjus to Sospel, from the Lérins Islands to the narrow streets of Villefranche-sur-Mer, they attempted to probe the soul of the French Riviera, moving beyond postcard images to capture the metaphysics of the place.
Jean-Marc Caimi and Valentina Piccinni are a duo specializing in documentary photography, with a particular focus on the relationship between people and the land, as well as socio-political transformations.
This project is the result of a collaboration between La Citadelle – Art Center & Museum and the Mougins Photography Center, with the support of the DRAC Paca (Regional Directorate for Regional Development), the Alpes-Maritimes Department, and ENSAP – Villa Arson.
Jean-Marc Caimi & Valentina Piccinni : Le Cœur caché
March 1, 2025 – April 27, 2025
La Citadelle
17 Pl. Emmanuel Philibert
06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
https://lacitadellevsm.fr/
