Sacra – Photographic Exhibition by Pia Bacchielli

A search for the sacred hidden in the everyday

Sacra is the solo photographic exhibition by Pia Bacchielli hosted by Galleria Papini in Ancona, in the heart of the provincial capital and the Marche region. The exhibition invites viewers to recognize the sacred not in grand altars or places of worship, but in the silent traces of everyday life: objects and symbols that appear common but which, through the lens, reveal a deep and ancient nature, transforming into bridges towards a higher dimension.

Black and white as the language of the invisible

The twenty or so shots on display are entirely in black and white, an expressive choice that strips images of superfluity to focus attention on substance. Bacchielli constructs a universe deliberately nuanced in form but extremely sharp in content, populated by cryptic symbols and primeval deities. The four elements — water, earth, fire, and air — become primordial symbols transmuted into common religious meaning, while the sacred circle recalls the idea of unity.

The feminine, archetypes, and the memory of the territory

At the center of the research is feminine sacredness: motherhood and the mystery of life run through the entire project, alongside pagan iconography and apotropaic symbolism. Many of the shots were taken in the Urbino hinterland, a territory the artist considers profoundly sacred, and references also include the memory of the earthquake that marked Central Italy in 2016. The work stems from the photographer's studies in the history of religions, anthropology, and popular traditions, translated here into pure visual language.

Curatorship and critical text

The exhibition is curated by Tiziana Torcoletti of Galleria Papini, with a critical text by Michele Servadio, who emphasizes how the exhibition celebrates the value of humanity in its universal and collective dimension, guiding the visitor in a reflection that delves deep into consciousness, where the traces of a fading sacredness remain perceptible. The initiative is sponsored by the Municipality of Ancona.

Galleria Papini in Ancona

The Associazione Culturale Galleria Papini, at Via Lazzaro Bernabei 39 in Ancona, is an exhibition space dedicated to contemporary art in its various disciplines — painting, sculpture, and photography — with a busy schedule of solo and group exhibitions. "Sacra" is part of the gallery's 2026 exhibition season, confirming its commitment to visual research and dialogue with artists from the Marche region.