While the battle for their Serie A status rages on, Venezia FC continue to embrace the style that epitomises the club’s unique identity. In line with this they have announced that 21-year-old Venice-based street photographer Eric Scaggiante will be their next resident photographer, as part of their Artists-in-Residency (VFC AiR) program.
Venezia FC have carved out a very specific identity for themselves en route to Serie A. As part of this they recruited New York photographer Ethan White for a nine month residency at the club, which culminated in the release of photo book that commemorated the club’s historic 2020/21 promotion season. Now, following on from that the club announce the continuation of its Venezia FC Artists-in-Residency (VFC AiR) program with 21-year-old Venice-based street photographer Eric Scaggiante as its next resident.
“With Stadio Penzo finally re-opened to the public, after more than a year of a vapid version of football played behind closed doors, we felt it called for an intimate, anthropological look at the human experience of attending a match,” said Venezia FC brand director Ted Philipakos. “Eric is a very young and still emerging photographer but with a unique eye for human behavior, capturing a raw reality in images that range from endearing to humorous to uncomfortable — something of a young Venetian Martin Parr. And the fact that Eric had never attended a football match figured to only make the perspective more interesting.”
“Further, this is a special season for Venezia FC, returning to Serie A after 19 years, and we wanted to document the city living these historic moments.”
“When Venezia asked me to start this project, I was thrilled,” said Scaggiante. “It was an occasion to do what I like most, to tell the story of people, in this case of those who go to the stadium.”
“I like to look at reality, searching for its charm, positive or negative, trying to photograph it as I see it. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don't; it's always a challenge. It’s a dialogue between myself and reality.”
Scaggiante will continue roaming Stadio Penzo on match days, and Venezia FC will publish his work in print at the end of the season.
Check out exactly why Venezia should be your new favourite team here.
