LISETTA CARMI: UNSEEN REALITIES OF ITALIAN LIFE
Lisetta Carmi was an influential Italian photographer known for her groundbreaking work that explored marginalised communities and the unseen realities of Italian life, culture and social issues.
Born into a middle-class Jewish family, Carmi’s childhood was marked by the rise of Italy’s Fascist regime in 1938, which forced her to leave school. Seeking refuge, she and her family fled to Switzerland.
Despite these challenges, Carmi displayed immense talent and pursued a successful career as a concert pianist. However, in 1960, she made a bold decision to change her path and focus on photography instead. This shift marked a turning point in Carmi’s life, as she found a new medium through which she could express herself and tell stories.
Carmi’s most notable work cantered around the trans community in her hometown of Genoa during the 1960s. Through her sensitive and empathetic lens, she captured their lives and experiences, providing a platform for their stories to be heard. This profound connection with the trans community allowed Carmi to accept herself and challenge societal norms regarding gender roles. Her photographs from this period were published in a controversial volume in 1972, which later gained cult status.
However, Carmi’s photography extended beyond the trans community. Her keen eye and dedication to social justice led her to document the struggles faced by the working class. She delved into the harsh conditions endured by labourers at the port of Genoa, the danger of industrial production in the city’s Italsider steelworks, and the groundbreaking employment of women in Sardinia’s cork industry. She even embarked on journeys to countries like Israel, Venezuela, Mexico, India, and Afghanistan, using her images to give voice to those who were often unheard.
After retiring to Puglia in 1979, Carmi devoted herself to yogi meditation. It was during this time that around 30 of her earlier works, including some in colour, were rediscovered in her house. These rediscovered photographs, alongside others, are now showcased in the Estorick Collection’s exhibition titled “Lisetta Carmi: Identities,” running from September 20 to December 17, 2023.
The untimely passing of Lisetta Carmi last year adds a poignant note to this exhibition, making it a timely and important reflection on her pioneering work capturing the unseen realities of Italian life. Her legacy as a photographer who fearlessly captured the lives of marginalised communities and shed light on social issues continues to resonate and inspire.
Lisetta Carmi: Identities
20 September – 17 December 2023
Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art
London, N1
www.estorickcollection.com
