Opera Viva
Opera Viva is a fine art photography project focusing on the nautical world, founded in 2024 by Antonio Lacchini and open to other artists. It brings together an archive of images from today’s nautical world: shipyards, boats, harbours, regattas and the people who work in the industry.
The archive is not stored on a computer. Every photograph selected for the project is produced as a limited-edition print, and the prints are distributed amongst those who support the project: in this way, the archive does not depend on a single medium and will be passed on to future generations.
The opera viva is the submerged part of the hull. It is the first part to be built and is what supports the boat.
The project takes its name because it focuses on the aspects of the boating world that are not visible from the outside: the shipyards, the tools worn by use, the designers and the builders. The name also applies to the photographs, which in this project exist as physical objects to be held in one’s hand: prints, not digital files.
First, the prints
In 2024, even before it had a name, the project lost its first archive: a theft of equipment resulted in the loss of the memory cards containing all the photographs taken up to that point.
Hence the guiding principle behind Opera Viva: the images are printed, and the prints are distributed. In 2025, the project took on its current form, with the first series produced on the building sites.
Different perspectives, common rules
Opera Viva works with several artists. Each brings their own technique and perspective, ranging from digital to large-format analogue. The project selects who to work with by looking at their photographs, and agrees on the series with each artist before beginning.
- Choice
- Artists are encouraged to take their work as their starting point. Each seriess remains linked to the project’s themes: the sea, sailing, and those who work in the maritime sector.
- Settings
- The subjects, locations and style of the seriesre decided together before we start.
- Attribution
- A series by a single artist bears that artist’s name. A series created by several artists is signed ‘Opera Viva’.
- The same rule applies to everyone: every image selected will be produced as a print, and no photographs from the project will be provided in digital format.
Where boating happens
The seriess are filmed on location: on building sites, in harbours, at regattas, and on board. The project covers everything to do with the sea and sailing: boats, people, jetties and harbours.
On a building site, the work begins with gaining access and getting to know the people there. Before taking photographs, you get to know who works there and what the place is like, and you return several times, in different light conditions and at different times of year. For an event, you arrive early to study the light and the angles.
Prints only, never files
Opera Viva’s photographs are not available in digital format. Each selected image exists only as a print, either in a limited edition or as a unique piece, and the same image may have different editions for each format.
They are printed using carbon pigments on museum-quality cotton paper, materials chosen to ensure they will last for centuries. The prints produced in the darkroom are silver-based.
Anyone who purchases a work receives
- Photography
- fine arts print using carbon pigments on cotton paper, or a silver salt print
- Formats
- 40 × 50, 50 × 70 and 70 × 100 cm – frame dimensions. The photograph is centred within the mat
- Assembly
- Mount and backing board
- Frame
- Black-varnished lime wood
- Glass
- Anti-reflective, with 70% UV protection
- Edition
- Limited edition or one-off. The print runs for each format are listed in the series details
Collections and collaborations
The photographs are organised into series. A series comes about in two ways: either on the initiative of Opera Viva, when we go out to take photographs or ask a shipyard, a sailor or a captain if we can work there; or on request, when a shipyard sees the images and suggests a series.
Some seriess come to an end after two or three visits, once the work on site is complete. Others remain ongoing for years, such as the research into solo boats at sea.
- Collection
- It is the result of an initiative by Opera Viva, with no partners. A finite number of images, in a limited edition.
- Collaboration
- It begins with a construction site, a sponsor or another photographer, or perhaps an event. Alongside its photographic exploration, it documents the work of those who host it.
The latest series
The people who make this work possible
The construction site opens its doors and enables the images to be created. In some cases it commissions a project; in others, it supports the project: the same construction site can play more than one role.
supporters, shipyards and other companies both within and outside the nautical sector provide financial backing for the project: they cover the costs of publications and, above all, the prints. Anyone who purchases a work is also a supporter of Opera Viva.
Who supports ‘Opera Viva’
Construction sites, companies and workshops supporting the project today.
Exhibitions, showrooms, building sites
The works can be viewed in person at temporary exhibitions, such as the one at the Venice Boat Show and the one at the Suisse in Madonna di Campiglio, as well as in a number of showrooms. Permanent exhibitions are currently being prepared at a number of shipyards.
The website features a selection from the exhibition. To view a complete series or receive a fact sheet on a particular work, please write to Opera Viva.
Who takes photographs for Opera Viva
For an artwork, an exhibition or a collaboration
Negotiations regarding the works remain confidential. Please write to info@opera-viva.art and the answer comes with the full details.