If trees could speak
Trees in 100 Photographs by the Great Photographers of Magnum Photos
If trees could speak
Trees in 100 Photographs by the Great Photographers of Magnum Photos
Palazzo Callas Exhibitions
March 21 – July 12, 2026
Opening: Friday, March 20, 5:00 PM
An exhibition that explores the fragile and necessary dialogue between humans and trees,
in a unique journey that invites us to observe, understand, and care for the delicate balance that unites us to nature.
At its core is the power of photography and its ability to show us this essential bond.
What would trees say if they could speak? What if they could recount what they have seen over the centuries, observing civilizations grow and disappear beneath their foliage, the wounds of war, and the slow healing of the earth? This question is attempted to be answered by “If trees could speak,” the exhibition that brings to Sirmione the gaze of forty photographers from Magnum Photos, the agency that has been documenting the world through fine art photography for over seventy years.
The Municipality of Sirmione renews its relationship with the prestigious international agency by presenting an exhibition curated by Andréa Holzherr (Global Cultural Director of Magnum Photos) and Mariangela Gavioli (architect).
A relationship with Magnum Photos that is deeply rooted in time and has evolved over the years into a virtuous collaboration, bringing the best of international photography to the Brescia shore of Lake Garda.
Great Photographers on Display
The silent voices of trees become a visual tale that spans continents and generations. From the centuries-old trees of Madagascar immortalized by Steve McCurry to the burned forests of Australia by Paolo Pellegrin, from the sacred forests of Japan by Abbas to the urban trees of Martin Parr and Richard Kalvar, each image is a chapter in a larger story. And in naming just a few, we are guilty of an unforgivable omission. Because alongside them, this choral visual narrative is composed of dozens of other great artists: 40 photographers, 100 photographs, a diverse perspective that intertwines reportage, visual poetry, and environmental commentary.
As Andréa Holzherr suggests, trees remind us that “we are still connected, that every breath we take is shared with them, that our lives are intertwined through invisible exchanges of air, water, and time.”
The exhibition invites us to pause, observe, and listen. Because trees are not a backdrop but living presences, silent witnesses and companions on humanity’s journey. They inhabit a time different from our own, made up of seasons and centuries, and their resilience, as Holzherr emphasizes, “is not just a question of strength, but also of flexibility, like branches that bend under the weight of snow, roots that search for water in the most unexpected places, or a forest that grows back after a fire.”
An innovative installation
For the first time ever, the photographs in the exhibition have been printed on special paper containing seeds. At the end of the exhibition, the prints will be planted in a field in Sirmione to give life to new trees. In this way, the photograph, after communicating through its iconographic dimension, symbolically returns to the earth from which it originated to transform into a new plant. This gesture narrates a cycle that both closes and begins anew.
The exhibition also features a “workbench” with soil, planting paper, water, and light, where visitors can observe the process by which the photographs are “planted,” as well as display shelves with in-depth bibliographical materials dedicated to the plant world.
“Photography conveys a message through the image and also preserves a deeper, more physical dimension: that of a seed that can return to the earth and generate new life,” emphasizes Luisa Lavelli. “A powerful gesture that transforms the exhibition into a garden of the future.” For years, Sirmione has been working continuously on environmental issues through numerous initiatives and activities, including greenery maintenance and protection, educational activities in schools, and artistic projects. Today, “If Trees Could Speak” adds a new dimension to this journey with an exhibition that combines art, nature, and concrete commitment”.
A Commitment to the Environment
“If trees could speak” is part of a broader commitment that the Municipality of Sirmione has devoted to environmental issues for years. This commitment is also expressed in the ethical approach of the latest projects of the Sirmione Photo Residency and in concrete initiatives such as greenery maintenance and protection, tree-planting programs, and environmental education activities in schools.
The Councilor for Tourism, Riccardo Genovesi, stated:
“With “If Trees Could Speak,” the images capture and captivate us, but they also push us to reflect on the delicate balance that binds us to Nature. This is our vision of high-quality tourism: a model that combines hospitality, the beauty of the experience, and the preservation of balance, offering precious moments of reflection and emotion, while respecting the environment and the community that lives there.
Photographers on display:
Abbas – Olivia Arthur, Jonas Bendiksen, Ian Berry, Werner Bischof, Matt Black, Myriam Boulos, Rene Burri, Sabiha Çimen, Bruce Davidson, Cristina de Middel, Bieke Depoorter, Thomas Dworzak, Stuart Franklin, Bruce Gilden, Gregory Halpern, David Hurn, Richard Kalvar, Guy Le Querrec, Alex Majoli, Peter Marlow, Steve McCurry, Lorenzo Meloni, Rafal Milach, Wayne Miller, Nanna Heitmann, Emin Ozmen, Trent Parke, Martin Parr, Paolo Pellegrin, Mark Power, Lua Ribeira, Jerome Sessini, Lindokuhle Sobekwa, Jacob Aue Sobol, Alec Soth, Chris Steele-Perkins, Larry Towell, Alex Webb, Patrick Zachmann
If trees could speak
Trees in 100 Photographs by the Great Photographers of Magnum Photos
Palazzo Callas Exhibitions
March 21 – July 12, 2026
Inauguration: Friday, March 20, 5:00 PM
Opening Hours
Daily 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM and 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Friday and Saturday 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM and 4:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Closed on Mondays, except holidays
Free admission
Information: Culture and Tourism Office | cultura@sirmionebs.it | 030 9909 184
Under the patronage of:
Lombardy Region, Province of Brescia, Consorzio Lago di Garda Lombardia, Comunità del Garda, Gal Garda e Colli Mantovani, Garda Musei
Resist, adapt, flourish: behind the scenes of an exhibition coming to life: the installation gallery
The voice of nature in the shots of Magnum Photos: the opening gallery
