Walter Niedermayr – Marghera 1997

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Ncontemporary is pleased to present Marghera 1997, the first solo exhibition by Walter Niedermayr (1952, Bolzano, Italy) at the gallery’s Venice space. Nearly thirty years after its creation, the homonymous work Marghera 1997 is exhibited once again, having first been shown during the exhibition Venice-Marghera. Photography and Transformations in the Contemporary City, curated by Paolo Costantini and sponsored by the 47th Venice Biennale.

Marghera 1997 is a visual and conceptual investigation of one of Europe’s largest and most controversial industrial landscapes: the port of Marghera. A single large-scale work, in which Walter Niedermayr explores the monumental scale and architectural complexity of this immense industrial area, bearing witness to its layered structure of construction, production, and the surrounding landscape.

Shot on analog film in 1997, the work reveals the tension between industrial expansion and nature, between the functionality of infrastructure and the perception of landscape. Known for his research into the relationship between public and private space, the artist here addresses a crucial issue: humanity's ability to understand and manage its impact on the environment.

Niedermayr observes the immensity of Marghera with a gaze that is both analytical and evocative. His reflection lingers on the paradox of an industrial reality which, despite its apparent hostility, generates an unexpected formal harmony. The interweaving of pipelines, chimneys, gasometers, and infrastructures—overlapping and connected in a functional order—creates an involuntary aesthetic, a landscape that challenges the traditional concept of beauty.