“Light in Silence” is an evocative journey through spirituality and natural elements, interpreted through the innovative photographic language of Andrea Benetti and Dario Binetti. Curated by Professor Stefano Papetti, the exhibition was held at the Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo in Ascoli Piceno from March 28 to April 29, 2025.
The 21 works on display merge bas-relief and photography, creating a dialogue between light and darkness, the visible and the invisible. Inspired by the depths of the Castellana Caves, the exhibition evokes ancestral impressions and visual archetypes, celebrating feminine sacredness and the power of nature. Symbolic figures, such as the Nuns of Silence and the Vestal Virgins of Light, embody contemplation and luminous purity, respectively. Each photograph, unique and unrepeatable, is the result of an innovative technique that blends traditional and contemporary methods: bas-reliefs in plaster on canvas combined with high-definition pigment prints, polymerized with UV rays. This process imparts a distinctive materiality to the works, enhancing the interplay between image and substance. Andrea Benetti, creator of the Manifesto of Neo-Cave Art, and Dario Binetti, an experienced photographer, have designed an exhibition path that invites the viewer to immerse themselves in an evocative and mystical atmosphere, where shadows and glows merge, revealing images that seem to emerge from a distant past. Promoted by Italian Art Promotion and Alchemical Shadows, under the patronage of the Municipality of Ascoli Piceno and in collaboration with the Castellana Caves, the exhibition pays homage to the cultural richness of the region, intertwining artistic innovation, spirituality, and a dialogue between past and present.