The Italian Cultural Institute of Paris is currently presenting a captivating photography exhibition titled "Voir le coeur des humains" (See the Human Heart) by renowned photographer Lia Pasqualino, running until January 30, 2026. Pasqualino, who studied under the acclaimed photographer Letizia Battaglia, has dedicated her career to capturing the inner emotional landscapes of her subjects through her lens.
In her artist statement, Pasqualino reveals her deeply personal approach to photography, explaining how her work connects her to childhood memories and emotions. "I have realized that, without meaning to, when I photograph I come face to face with the emotional landscape I knew as a child," she writes. "I look for moments in which, in a chance combination of elements, one can glimpse a certain inner reflection."
The photographer describes how her images often emerge from a deep well of personal and cultural memory. She recalls a particularly meaningful moment: "The goose in Piazza Magione appeared before me one afternoon, many years ago, but I think that in reality it emerged from the storehouse of images of Palermo buried within me." This connection to her Sicilian roots and the influence of her mentor Battaglia is evident throughout her work.
Pasqualino's talent for capturing intimate moments extends to her portrait work with both celebrities and unknown subjects. "Even in portraits I wait for the inner gaze of the person in front of me to reveal itself," she explains. Her notable subjects have included acclaimed French actress Jeanne Moreau, Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica, Italian actress and director Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi, and French actress Anna Mouglalis. However, she finds equal meaning in photographing "so many people whose names I do not know, encountered in the street or in a psychiatric hospital."
The photographer's philosophy centers on patience and the ability to recognize authentic human moments. "I draw on the evanescent storeroom hidden inside me, yet I know how to wait patiently for the moment when, in the subject before me, a silent dialogue with themselves appears," Pasqualino states. She describes her consistent approach throughout her career: "I think I have always done that: sought in others that particular tone of gaze turned more inward than outward. And I have made it my unit of measure of what is human."
The exhibition is housed at the Italian Cultural Institute's location in the historic Hôtel de Galliffet at 50 rue de Varenne in Paris's prestigious 7th arrondissement, with free admission available to all visitors. Accompanying the exhibition is a comprehensive catalog published by Dario Cimorelli editore in 2025, featuring essays by distinguished contributors including Antonio Calbi, Giovanna Calvenzi, Gabriel Bauret, Roberto Andò, Ferdinando Scianna, and Tommaso Montanari. Art enthusiasts and photography lovers have the opportunity to experience this intimate exploration of human emotion through Pasqualino's lens until the exhibition's conclusion in late January 2026.
