Jago, the New Michelangelo

USPA NEWS - The works of Jago told through the light, the lens, and the sensitivity of Foto ReD Photographic Agency.
At Foto ReD Photographic Agency, we had the privilege of closely documenting the works of one of the most influential and visionary artists on the contemporary scene: Jago, often described as “the new Michelangelo.” Photographing his sculptures inside the Jago Museum in Naples was not just a professional assignment, but an immersive journey into the heart of modern sculpture, where tradition intertwines with the sensibilities of our time and matter seems to vibrate with life.

Jago, the sculptor who renews tradition Considered by many to be one of the greatest marble sculptors of our era, Jago—born Jacopo Cardillo—has earned a prominent place in the international art world thanks to a language that effortlessly blends classical technique with contemporary vision. Born in 1987, he chose an independent path, free from academies and conventions, building a career rooted in research, discipline, and an extraordinary ability to engage with art history without ever being overshadowed by it.

The label “new Michelangelo” is not a mere slogan: it stems from his absolute mastery of marble, his almost surgical anatomical precision, and his ability to transform a hard, immobile material into something alive, pulsating, almost breathing. His works explore universal themes—birth, death, vulnerability, power—with an intensity that belongs deeply to our time, offering viewers a sense of wonder and unease at once.

A talent that sculpts matter and emotion What makes Jago unique is his ability to turn stone into a body in tension, an organism that seems to move, contract, or hold its breath. Each sculpture appears suspended between formal perfection and emotional fragility: veins emerging, folds of skin that tell stories, restrained expressions that speak more than words ever could.

In his hands, marble becomes a universal language—one that needs no translation because it speaks directly to the soul. For us photographers, capturing this complexity was a fascinating challenge: light glides across the sculpted surfaces, revealing details that only a trained eye can perceive, and every shot becomes a way to convey the emotional depth of the work—its inner vibration, its almost human presence.

The Jago Museum: a new cultural landmark in the heart of Naples In the Vergini district of Naples stands the Jago Museum, a permanent exhibition space dedicated to the artist. Housed inside the evocative Church of Sant’Aspreno ai Crociferi, the museum has been transformed into a place where artistic creation and public experience coexist in harmony, creating an atmosphere suspended between sacredness and contemporary vision.

The essential and rigorous layout establishes a powerful dialogue between the sculptures and the sacred architecture. This is not a traditional museum, but a living laboratory where the creative process becomes an integral part of the visitor’s experience. Photographing in this environment means immersing oneself in a dense, contemplative atmosphere, where the silence of stone meets the spirituality of the space.

Among the works on display, the following stand out: • Il Figlio Velato (The Veiled Son), one of the artist’s most iconic and moving sculptures, a masterpiece that seems to defy gravity and matter • Habemus Hominem, a powerful reflection on birth, power, and human fragility • First Baby, a symbol of human vulnerability, a marble newborn that appears to pulse with life • other installations that change over time, following Jago’s evolving artistic research

Our photographic work: technique, equipment, and vision To best convey the visual power of Jago’s works, we adopted a photographic approach refined down to the smallest detail. Our priority was to respect the nature of the sculptures, enhancing their three-dimensionality, the texture of the marble, and their emotional intensity.

Professional equipment We used professional Canon camera bodies and lenses, ideal for ensuring: • maximum sharpness • faithful color rendering • impeccable management of light and shadow • controlled depth of field to highlight details The fast lenses allowed us to work even with natural light, taking advantage of the church’s unique atmosphere without altering its essence.

Technique and approach Our method is based on three fundamental principles: Respect for the artwork Every shot is designed not to overshadow the sculpture, but to accompany it. Photography becomes a medium, not an end. The search for perfect light We carefully studied how natural and ambient light caresses the marble, creating volumes and contrasts that reveal the artist’s mastery. Visual storytelling We do not simply document — we narrate. Each image is crafted to convey the same emotion one feels when observing the work in person, capturing its presence, its strength, its poetry.

A reference point for contemporary art Today, the Jago Museum is one of the most dynamic cultural hubs in the city. Naples, with its layered history and vibrant energy, proves to be an ideal place to host an artist who uses matter to question the present. Jago’s presence in the city strengthens Naples’ role as a center of contemporary artistic production, capable of attracting visitors, scholars, and art enthusiasts from around the world. For us at Foto ReD Photographic Agency, documenting this space through images has been both an honor and a responsibility: every shot is a tribute to an artist who is redefining the language of sculpture and who, with his vision, is leaving an indelible mark on the history of art.

Photography and text by photographers and journalists Roberto Magni and Daniela Comi By Foto ReD Photographic Agency and ReD Magazine. Bologna Motorvalley Italy