Following the presentation of his work at the Grand Palais Éphémère in Paris in 2023 and at the Triennale Milano in 2024, in 2025 Juergen Teller—one of the most influential and trailblazing photographers on the contemporary scene—chooses Sabbioneta, and more precisely the breathtaking Galleria degli Antichi at Palazzo Giardino, as the setting for 7 ½, his most iconic and personal exhibition to date.

The nearly 400 photographs offer an unfiltered portrayal of beauty, truth, and all the beloved imperfections that have shaped the last seven and a half years of the artist’s life—years marked by a deeply intertwined professional, artistic, and personal journey with his wife, Dovile Drizyte. Private moments and career milestones merge in a “perfectly accidental” harmony, all seen through Teller’s provocative and unmistakable lens.

Teller envisioned an installation where the images would “flow” along the 97 metres of the Galleria—as days and years naturally flow—while preserving and even enhancing the timeless splendour of this Renaissance masterpiece. To realise this vision, curator Mario Codognato designed a series of tables stretching the full length of the hall, pairing the soft natural light from its 26 windows with an equal number of specially crafted lamps, subtly integrated to complement the 16th-century frescoes.

For the design and material selection, Codognato turned to the creative expertise of architect Federico Fedel. After careful research, Fedel identified Panguaneta Maple-Superior plywood as the ideal material for this unique, site-specific display—both elegant and technically outstanding.

Maple-Superior is one of the most refined products within Panguaneta’s Superior range—dedicated to the most demanding applications and intricate processes. The panel brings together the lightness, workability, and inherent environmental sustainability of Italian poplar with the warm, delicate tones of rotary-cut maple. The natural grain reveals a flowing, sophisticated pattern that enhances the panel’s elegant beauty. Each panel is crafted with meticulous care—from the strict selection of raw materials to a rigorous quality control at every stage of production—to ensure a flawless surface, outstanding dimensional stability, and long-term resistance to warping.

For Teller, it was love at first sight. The luminous maple finish harmonised seamlessly with the subtle hues of the Renaissance frescoes, while the plywood’s stability and precision machining enabled a perfectly modular rhythm—echoing the cadence of the Galleria’s windows. The resulting table arrangement is visually powerful in its linear simplicity, yet so naturally integrated that it elevates the room’s beauty without ever overpowering it. Even the lighting elements appear almost invisible, perfectly in tune with the painted columns and classical motifs.

This remarkable cultural event celebrates the timeless charm of Sabbioneta through its enduring architectural wonders and the excellence of local craftsmanship—opening the doors of the Gonzaga’s “ideal city” to the global voice of contemporary art.

Links:

• Panguaneta is Main Sponsor and Technical Partner of “7 ½”, Juergen Teller’s New Exhibition in Sabbioneta
• Poplar plywood panel with outer faces in maple veneers | Maple-Superior
• Superior plywood panels free from defect | Panguaneta
• Juergen Teller - 7 ½ | Artribune
• Juergen Teller in mostra a Palazzo Giardino a Sabbioneta | Artribune
• Juergen Teller a Sabbioneta con 7 ½, la mostra più personale mai realizzata dall'artista | Vanity Fair Italia
• Il libro della mostra “7 ½” di Sabbioneta conquista Venezia