Exhibition Terra Incógnita by Adriano Gambarini
Adriano Gambarini is one of Brazil’s most renowned documentary photographers. With over 30 years of career experience and an academic background in geology, he began his photographic journey as part of his speleological research. Through this work, he was among the first to illuminate and reveal the virtually unknown subterranean darkness in Brazil.
His speleological documentation and fascination with the Earth led him to a brilliant photographic career spanning more than three decades, contributing to some of the world’s leading geographic magazines. Gambarini’s photography extends far beyond aphotic environments, capturing the diversity of landscapes and cultures from all continents, amassing a collection of over half a million photographs.
A very small fraction of this collection is featured in the Terra Incógnita exhibition, showcasing fifteen photographs from different stages of his career. These images are complemented by seven screens continuously displaying behind-the-scenes footage of the photographer in action. Some of these videos, along with interviews, are also available on his YouTube channel.
For the first time, I am categorizing a blog post under two distinct sections—Exhibitions and Inspirations—as Gambarini’s work has profoundly influenced my interest in photography. Even before enrolling in Biology, I was already deeply fascinated by caves, particularly those in the Vale do Ribeira region. During a visit to the Alto Ribeira State Tourist Park (PETAR), I saw his photos for the first time. At that point, I hadn’t even considered photography as a profession or serious pursuit, but seeing those illuminated cave images, with colors visible only through this art form, piqued my curiosity. That’s the magic of long-exposure photography—it reveals celestial objects, low-light areas, and dynamic patterns in water, clouds, people, and more.
After that initial encounter, I came across Gambarini’s reports in National Geographic and Terra da Gente, his books, and his photos displayed in various places, including the Serra da Canastra, where he developed a long-term project on the Brazilian merganser. I also recall his aerial exhibition Mostra Brasil featured on Gol airline flights. References to his name often surfaced in speleology lectures, and I followed some of his Instagram livestreams, especially during the surge of this format during the pandemic.
Although I’ve never personally interacted with the photographer, it’s undeniable that his influence permeates my work. That’s why I made time between two long trips to visit the exhibition. The large-format photographs displayed on the walls convey the colors, textures, and grandeur of the planet’s geological and cultural diversity. The exhibition’s name, Terra Incógnita, evokes the mapping of the unknown, as though his lens unveils places and customs on the brink of vanishing. From icebergs to tropical forests, life in Paris to oriental cultures, seas to mountains, this compact exhibition celebrates the beauty and fragility of our vast, yet still largely unexplored, world.
The exhibition concludes on December 22, and admission is free. If you’re in São Paulo, I highly recommend visiting the Unibes Cultural Center. For those unable to attend, follow Gambarini on social media and stay informed about the exhibition’s next stop to explore a little more of our great Terra Incógnita.
