Urbis Pluralis: Photographing the urban complexity

This book marks the end of an 11 years long research and production period during which I developed a new way of approaching the urban fabric as well as a new way of photographing spaces.
At the same time, it is the first milestone of a new artistic phase in my unending search on how to understand and render the multidimensional facet of our world.

The series Urbis Pluralis gathers a selection of around 100 photographs from more than 1,000 taken in 22 cities worldwide between 2013 and 2024. It includes various sub-series and conceptual approaches, yet the photos consistently result from a dialogue between the space's plurality and myself. My aim is to portray a situation made of countless distinct details and impressions, yet also forming a cohesive whole that exudes a specific identity. These photos capture what is, what was, and how I respond to it, both visually and emotionally.

All photographs are made in situ and in camera, meaning they are captured on the spot without pre-visualizing the visual overlaps they stem from, and without post-recomposition or digital manipulation. This approach embeds a specific time and status of the situation into the photographic process, adding an archival dimension to the final images, alongside my personal perception.

Frederico Campanale, Summer 2024