An exhibit in Milan showcases the results of a three-month photographic workshop at a leading facility in Monza, capturing everyday life and fragile relationships.
Worldwide, more than 55 million people are living with dementia (over one million in Italy), and that number could triple by 2050. Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are the seventh leading cause of death globally. The economic impact is estimated at 23 billion euros annually, including both direct and indirect costs.
In 2025, the social photography association Ri-scatti ODV decided to document these experiences of fragility, which increasingly affect a wider range of the population. In collaboration with La Meridiana SCS, they organized a three-month photographic workshop at “Il Paese Ritrovato” (The Rediscovered Village), a pioneering Alzheimer’s care facility in Monza that provides both care and a space for residents to live and participate. Eleven people – including residents, caregivers, volunteers, and family members – coordinated by Ri-Scatti photographers, were guided to share their stories through images. This project highlights the growing demand for innovative approaches to dementia care and support.
Over 7,000 photographs were taken during the workshop. A selection of more than 50 images has been curated for the exhibit “Io sono qui” (“I am here”), which will be on display from March 11 to March 19 at the Osart Gallery in Milan (Corso Plebisciti 12).
For those living with Alzheimer’s, presence is the only sign of existence. People, even those most loved, exist only when they are physically present, visible, and tangible. When they disappear from perception, memory dissolves, and with it, the person’s very existence. There is no past, no future – only the present moment. Photography becomes an existential act, not simply documentation, but a vital gesture affirming: “I am here. This exists.”
Each photograph serves as a testament, tangible proof that something – someone – truly happened. The Osart Gallery of Milan is hosting the exhibit, which is open to the public Monday through Sunday from 10 AM to 1 PM and from 2:30 PM to 7 PM. The photographs capture fragments of daily life, fragile and profound relationships, small gestures, and moments of shared connection. The exhibit aims to portray the human experience of dementia, rather than explain the disease itself.
Il Paese Ritrovato is Italy’s first Alzheimer’s village: a community designed to restore autonomy, dignity, and quality of life to people with dementia. It’s not a hospital-like facility, but a small town with houses, squares, and shared spaces where relationships remain central to daily life.
“Io sono qui”
Osart Gallery
Corso Plebisciti 12, Milan
March 11 to March 19, 2026
Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday, 10 AM - 1 PM and 2:30 PM - 7 PM
March 19, 6 PM
“Poetry Beyond Words: A Dialogue Between Music and Voices from Il Paese Ritrovato.” Event curated by Paola Perfetti, drama therapist (La Meridiana Cooperative).
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