Joakim Kocjancic
Italia/Europea
Location: Palazzo Ducale, Cortile degli Svizzeri 1
Opening days and hours:
Monday – Thursday from 15:00 to 19:00
Friday – Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00
Cities blend together into a single metropolis—Europea—where borders dissolve, and the focus shifts to people. Captured between 1999 and 2016, this series offers a compelling photographic exploration of an open Europe, a continent where borders are defined by its people. The individuals I depict are reflections of myself, fragments of my identity. I believe that we are all connected. Through the language of black-and-white photography, I strive to create balance within the fast-paced urban life while simultaneously crafting an inner reality in the borderland between dreams and reality. “Looking back on the years I’ve spent across Europe, I realize that my journey was a search for an identity unrestricted by nationality. By seeing myself in others, I seek to find myself, uncover points of reference, make sense of my values, discover what I love, and preserve what I don’t want to lose.” Born and raised in Milan, I first moved to Stockholm in 1995. After three years, I returned to Italy, living in Florence and then Carrara, where I studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts. My journey continued with an Erasmus exchange in Spain, fol- lowed by time in Dublin, London, and back to Stockholm. Along the way, I often visited Antwerp, Milan, and other cities across Europe. I am half Italian, half Swedish, with a Slovenian last name. I see myself more as a European citizen than as a citizen of any single country. Yet, of all the European nations, Italy remains closest to my heart. I understand it on a deeper level and feel more connected there—I know the 07 language, the customs, the way people move and speak. I went to school there, played basketball and football, made friends, have cousins, and had girlfriends. Italy is where my heart beats strongest. At the Photolux Festival, I present a selection of my favorite images from my jour- neys in Italy. This is Italia Europea. At the Photolux Festival, I present a selection of my favorite images from my journeys in Italy. This is Italia Europea.
BIOGRAPHY
Joakim Kocjancic, born in Milan in 1975, had a dual cultural upbringing in Italy and Sweden.
His formative years included extensive travels across Europe, immersing himself in diverse cultures in Italy, Spain, Belgium, Ireland, Sweden, and England.
Drawing from foundational skills in painting, Kocjancic has seamlessly translated them into an expressive and graphic photographic style. His exclusive use of black and white analog photography upholds the manual and organic traditions of painting. Rooted in neo-realism and classic street photography, he captures moments authentically. Between 2006 and 2012, Kocjancic focused his lens on the streets of Stockholm, resulting in the book “Paradise Stockholm,” published by Journal in 2014. Recognition followed with a grant from the Swedish Arts Council in the same year. “Paradise Stockholm” was exhibited at Galleri Kontrast in Stockholm, FORMA in Milan, and Galerie Intervalle in Paris. A grant from the Swedish Writer Association led him to Cardoso (LU), Italy, where he spent six months documenting the village’s people. The outcome was the book “After the Flood,” published in 2018 by Pacini Editore, Italy, and showcased at the Photolux Festival in Lucca in 2018. Kocjancic’s work has been mentioned in publications such as La Repubblica, The New York Times, Dagens Arbete, and ETC. His exhibitions include prestigious venues like Centre de la Photographie in Geneva, FORMA in Milan, Moderna Museet in Stockholm, and various galleries across Europe. His ongoing project, “Europea,” spanning 1999 to 2016, envisions a borderless, open Europe. The project garnered the Swedish Art Book prize in 2020 and the first prize in the photo documentary category at the Photo Festival of Rovinj in Croatia in 2019. The Modern Museum of Art in Stockholm has acquired five prints for their permanent collection. Published by Bokförlaget Max Ström and designed by Lars Liljendahl & Eleonora Bergendal from La Strada Studio, Stockholm. His most recent project, captured in the streets of Bucharest between 2019 and 2023, delves into an oneiric, personal vision of a city with universal resonance. Focused on the vibrant energy of the younger generation, this series is planned for a book publication and exhibition in 2025.