The Current in Stowe Presents Photographic Analysis by Giacomo d’Orlando

The Current, a contemporary art center dedicated to civic engagement through visual practice, has announced the upcoming presentation of Symbiosis, a solo exhibition by Italian documentary photographer Giacomo d’Orlando. Situated in Stowe, Vermont, the exhibition offers a rigorous visual inquiry into the interdependence between human populations and oceanic ecosystems, specifically framed by the escalating climate crisis.

The exhibition features an ongoing project derived from extensive field research conducted across coastal regions in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Australia. D’Orlando’s work documents the transformation of marine environments, analyzing how environmental degradation reshapes both physical ecosystems and the socio-economic realities of the communities dependent upon them. The series specifically highlights the conditions of small-scale fishermen and Indigenous peoples—populations that frequently contribute minimally to anthropogenic climate change yet disproportionately bear its consequences, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and biodiversity loss.

The exhibition is distinguished by a multifaceted methodological approach. D’Orlando merges traditional documentary techniques, utilizing a full-frame camera and prime lenses, with aerial and underwater photography. This technical diversity facilitates a shifting perspective that juxtaposes the aesthetic magnitude of the marine world with the vulnerability of its inhabitants, exposing locations and communities often omitted from mainstream environmental discourse.

Rachel Moore, Executive Director of The Current, positions the exhibition as a critical component of the institution’s mission to address defining contemporary issues. Moore describes the work as a “visual call to action,” intended to provoke reflection on collective responsibility and the necessity of restoring equilibrium between human activity and marine health.

Symbiosis will be on view at The Current, located at 90 Pond Street in Stowe, Vermont, from January 15 through April 10, 2026.