There is a subtle pleasure in peeking into other people’s homes. Searching for familiar objects, noticing the choice of furniture or artworks, and hoping to catch a glimpse of the residents’ identities allows us to imagine their lives from the inside, to reveal the lived, often shared, experience embedded in these deeply personal spaces. In this sense, “Due cuori e una capanna”, a photographic project conceived and created by Daniele Ratti between 2020 and 2024, becomes a true transdisciplinary investigation, placing intimacy at the heart of the discourse on domestic architecture.

The exhibition’s title, on view at Gallerie d’Italia – Naples Intesa Sanpaolo from June 12, plays on a familiar Italian idiom – “due cuori e una capanna” – evoking the romantic notion of a love that endures even in the humblest of homes. Yet Ratti’s reflection operates on two levels, interpreting this metaphor-archetype not only in sentimental terms but also through the lens of architectural history.

Through 42 carefully selected photographs from a broader body of work, Ratti invites the viewer into the heart of real, lived-in homes, spaces deeply shaped by the feelings and stories of those who inhabited them, spaces that are, in essence, their direct extensions. Each image is a fragment of a private narrative: intimate interiors, timeworn furnishings, perspectives that reveal – through sensitivity and precision – the crucial role these environments play in understanding human experience, and how space and emotion subtly and powerfully shape one another.

With an almost ethnographic gaze, Ratti documents historical dwellings and modern or contemporary architecture where the relationship between couples and their home has grown symbiotic, layered over time. In an era where living is increasingly nomadic and fluid, “Due cuori e una capanna” becomes a poignant and evocative narrative that reaffirms the value of shared space with empathy, patience, and a non-invasive lens. Each room, each detail becomes a trace of emotional memory of which we, as viewers, remain invisible witnesses.

Exhibition: "Due cuori e una capanna" Curated by: Benedetta Donato Location: Le Gallerie d'Italia - Napoli, Italy Dates: from 12th June 2025 to 14th September 2025