Sirmione inaugurates the photography exhibition “FIT Every Size Matters,” an event that intertwines art and social reflection to analyze the influence of fashion on body perception. Held at the Palazzo Callas Exhibitions from July 19 to November 9, 2025, the exhibition is based on images from the 15th edition of the Sirmione Photography Award and focuses on the theme of sizes, offering a critical perspective on the relationship with one’s image in the evocative setting of Lago di Garda.
The Concept of the Exhibition: Sizes and Perception
The exhibition addresses the impact that the fashion industry has on body perception. A central point of reflection is the phenomenon of vanity sizing, the practice of reducing the sizes associated with clothing to induce consumers to perceive themselves as slimmer. According to the organizers, this marketing strategy exploits the desire to conform to aesthetic ideals promoted by the media, with potential consequences on self-esteem and body image. Advertising communication, which often links thinness to concepts of success and happiness, fuels a constant focus on size and weight. The mayor of Sirmione, Luisa Lavelli, stated: “FIT tackles a current and urgent issue with strength and sensitivity, inviting reflection on the relationship between image, body, and perception. The exhibition opens a dialogue that, starting from photographic language, intersects a central issue in our daily lives.”
An Installation that Reverses Perspectives
The installation of the “FIT Every Size Matters” exhibition is designed to provoke visual reflection. Photographs identified as size XS are presented in smaller formats, while those labeled XL are displayed in significantly larger dimensions, dominating the visual space. This choice inverts the typical hierarchy of values in fashion, where smaller sizes are often idealized. The exhibition curator, Mariangela Gavioli, explains that “the walls of the rooms are adorned with photographs that literally follow the dimensions they represent: each wall presents a mosaic of all sizes – XS, S, M, L, XL – in apparent randomness.” The aim is to create a “deliberate visual short circuit that seeks to dismantle the toxic equation between value and size,” demonstrating that artistic quality, emotion, and expressive power do not depend on dimensions.
Beyond Photography: The Landscape as Metaphor
The concept of the exhibition extends to the territory as well. The Tourism Councillor, Riccardo Genovesi, commented: “Just as there is no perfect size, there is no single way to experience a destination. In Sirmione, every vacation finds its right measure, a place capable of welcoming and reflecting diverse expectations, rhythms, and sensitivities.” The variety of landscapes around the lake, from small villages to wide vistas, is proposed as a metaphor for the beauty that resides in diversity.
The Sirmione Photography Award
The exhibition is the result of the Sirmione Photography Award, an initiative organized by the Municipality of Sirmione now in its sixteenth edition. Aimed at both amateur and professional photographers, the award uses imagery as a universal language. The 2024 edition saw the participation of over 600 photographers, with approximately 2,200 entries and 125 projects for the Sirmione Photo Residency. The exhibition will also be enriched by images from the “Sirmione 10% Photo Marathon,” a 60-minute photography competition taking place on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
Information and Hours
Sirmione Photography Award 2024 Exhibition: FIT Every Size Matters
- Location: Palazzo Callas Exhibitions, Sirmione
- Period: July 19 – November 9, 2025
- Hours from July 19 to September 28: Daily 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM and 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM. On Fridays and Saturdays, evening hours are extended until 10:00 PM. Closed on Mondays (except holidays).
- Hours from September 30 to November 9: Daily 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Closed on Mondays (except holidays).
