Born in Madrid in May 1968, Eugenio Recuenco is today one of Spain’s most renowned photographers. He is considered the heir of the great masters of classical Spanish painting like Goya, El Greco and Zurbarán, with whom he shares an almost perfect mastery of chiaroscuro. His highly evocative photos plunge the viewer into a mysterious and magical world inspired by cinema.
How did this project come about?
E. Recuenco : Pernod Ricard contacted me about a photography project, and I was seduced by the concept. They gave us complete control of the project, from the conception through the photo shoot. We worked on the theme of communication and the link between human beings. The theme “Connected” can be seen not only in the portraits, but also in the mural, where all of the characters are connected.
What’s the story of the work?
E.R : This is the complete reproduction of a city, seen at different moments of the day. I like to catch the viewer’s eye by creating darker areas: at first glance, the viewer cannot grasp all the details. He has to try to understand the meaning, the details and the subtleties of the photograph. Placed end to end, the mural tells a never-ending story.
What were your inspirations for this project?
E.R : I took a lot of inspiration from Surrealism, in particular the work of Giorgio de Chirico, but also from comics. This neo-baroque city is a mixture of two very different artistic influences. The scenery is neutral and grey. The style and color are provided by the details, and the characters enliven the scene with their energy. If these seem straight out of a silent film, it’s because I modeled them on vintage photographs from film sets. For the costumes, I was inspired by the baroque cabaret style of the roaring twenties.
Eugenio Recuenco started out as a painter before being catapulted onto the world stage with photos for fashion magazines like Madame Figaro, WAD and Vanity Fair, along with advertising campaigns for several major brands.
EXHIBITION
January 30 – February 2013
La Galerie Particulière
16, rue du Perche
75003 Paris
France
REPRESENTATION
SPAIN: Gianfranco Meza & CO www.gianfrancomeza.com
FRANCE: Bookmaker – Guillaume Derville www.lebookmaker.com
HONG KONG: Fast Management www.fast-management.com
ITALY: West Artists Milano – Marino Parisotto www.westartistsmanagement.com
