As a third main focus of the Photo Vogue Festival 2017 (others are the shows Stories by Paolo Roversi and Fashion & Politics in Vogue Italia), the PhotoVogue/Visions exhibition showcased the works selected by an international panel of experts on the Vogue.it photography platform.
This results in a varied collection of issues and styles, a kind of synopsis describing the different ways of approaching both reality and a dream-like atmosphere, two elements photographers blend in original ways to achieve their personal expression and style. Artists featured are Alexandra Von Fuerst, Cécile Smetana Baudier, Clara Giaminardi, Daniel Jack Lyons, Giovanni Corabi, Harris Mizrahi, Isabel Martínez, Justine Tjallinks, Kiki Xue, Kyle Weeks, MOJOimages (Irina Yulieva and Victor Yuliev), Nadine Ijewere, R. Michael Walker, Romina Ressia, Rosa Polin, Scandebergs, Supranav Dash, Zhongjia Sun.
Some of them were asked a few questions about their works on show. Justine Tjallinks, for instance, who is based in Amsterdam, says she was inspired by the master painters from the Dutch Golden Age. “As a child I was able to see works by Vermeer and Rembrandt: the worlds created by these painters were fascinating to me. The light they mastered so well, the drama, the contrast. It felt like such a different world than the one I lived in,” she explained.
Images by Isabel Martinez (advertising creative, instagrammer, and photographer) are marked by the sense of time passing. “Trends are ephemeral but beauty lasts forever. This is a homage to timeless fashion. I was inspired by antique hand-coloured photographic techniques and autochromen,” she said. “My images suggest a journey in time and space: in the era of post-truth I challenge the viewer to ask questions about when these images were taken.”
The Italian photographer Giovanni Corabi explained his images “explore the inner emotional world of men in relation to masculinity and the social pressure they face in order to conform to the norm. From the beginning of the project I knew I wanted the subjects to contribute to the final outcome. While the photos show them through my eyes, the written pieces give them a platform to express themselves. It is not just my story; instead it’s a collective of many different ones that create a journey of discovery.”
Harris Mizrahi, based in NY, told his “images are not fashion photographs but they are not without fashion. They intentionally straddle a line between fiction and reality. Fashion is just another element of a photo that contributes to its reading, just as light and gesture do. Clothing is a storytelling device and the implications of a person’s choice in clothing can have an effect on how a photo is read.”
The exhibition was on view on at the Base Milano venue, that also hosted talks with international photographers and experts, other events were produced and showcased by several renowned galleries in Milan, too. Photo Vogue/Visions was curated by Alessia Glaviano and Francesca Marani.
Paola Sammartano
Paola Sammartano is a journalist specialized in arts and photography based in Milan, Italy.
Photo Vogue/Visions
November 16 to 19, 2017
BASE Milano
Via Bergognone 34
20144 Milano
Italy
