The photography exhibition, curated by the Geographic Association La Venta in collaboration with the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Pavia, with the support of the National Plan for Scientific Degrees – Geology Project, and under the patronage of the Italian Speleological Society, the Italian Geographic Society, and Fondazione Cariplo, aims to share the unique world of caves—a realm where space, sounds, smells, and time exist in a dimension that is entirely different from the surface world.
The exhibition will showcase large-format, backlit photographic panels, accompanied by videos, exploration equipment, objects, and books that will immerse visitors in extraordinary and unexpected environments. The Geographic Association La Venta has been conducting explorations and research in these environments for over 30 years, leading to significant scientific discoveries. From the remote, ancient caves of Venezuela’s tepuis to the fleeting yet captivating glacial cavities, whose study is crucial to understanding ongoing climate change; from high-altitude abysses in Uzbekistan to salt-carved tunnels in Iran and Chile—each photograph narrates the essence of speleological research.
What mysteries lie beneath the dense Asian and American rainforests? What does it mean to descend into the toxic depths of Arabian abysses, where exploration pushes human limits? What forms of life exist in these depths? The exhibition seeks to answer these questions, revealing unknown life forms shaping the interior of mountains, as well as traces of ancient human life, hidden and suspended in time within caves. Among the images is the breathtaking Giant Crystal Cave, captured during an expedition that tested the physical and technological limits of speleologists, who faced infernal heat to uncover the planet’s most extraordinary underground landscape.
In addition to the exhibition, there will be conferences led by explorers from La Venta. On Tuesday, April 15, at 6 PM at Kosmos, “The Lost World” will showcase the explorations and studies conducted in the tepui caves—some of the oldest quartzite mountains on Earth. Speakers include Francesco Sauro, geologist at the University of Padua and president of La Venta, and Martina Cappelletti, microbiology professor at the University of Bologna. On Friday, May 23, at 6 PM, also at Kosmos, there will be a session titled “The Last Ice” with Francesco Sauro and glaciologist Alessio Romeo. Astronaut Luca Parmitano will join remotely to discuss the connection between caves and outer space—two seemingly distant but closely linked worlds.
Throughout the duration of the exhibition, Kosmos will offer family activities, guided tours for groups and schools, and, upon request, visiting schools will have the opportunity to attend short seminars on topics related to the exhibition, in collaboration with the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Pavia.
The exhibition “Colors of Darkness: Exploring the Underground Planet” will be open from March 20 to August 31, 2025, during Kosmos’ opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (last entry at 5:30 PM).
It will be closed on Easter Day, May 1, and August 15. Access to the exhibition is included with the museum admission ticket. For those visiting only the exhibition, the entrance fee is €4.
For more information, you can contact kosmos@unipv.it or call 0382 986220.
