VIP - VERY IMPORTANT PORTRAITS
Museo di Capodimonte, Naples
curated by Adriana Rispoli, Eugenio Viola
V.I.P. –Very
Important Portraits, curated by Adriana Rispoli and Eugenio Viola is the
contemporary link to "Tiziano e il Ritratto di Corte da Raffaello ai
Carracci" opens on Friday, March 24 at 17.00 at the Museo di Capodimonte,
Naples.
The apparently ironic and irreverent parallel between the Italian genius
of the 16th century and the extravagant contemporary photograper is essentially
based on portraits, a favorite theme for both artists. The comparison
originates from the subtle resemblance between the patrons of Titian's
portraits mostly popes, aristocrats, emperors and the personalities who emerge
from the lens of David LaChapelle, all belonging to the world of the
star-system, music and fashion world.
TO A CAREFUL VIEWER THE CONTEMPORARY AESTHETICS OF LACHAPELLE SEEMS TO
BE A CULTURED AND CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE CLASSIC ICONOGRAPHY OF
PORTRAITS, FULL OF ACCURATE AESTHETIC REFERENCES AND RESEMBLANCES.
FROM THE PORTRAITS OF STATE OFFICIALS (HILLARY CLINTON) TO THE ONES OF
COMMONERS (LIZ TAYLOR) AND FROM THE ALLEGORIC (KAHIND WILEY) TO THE GROUP
PORTRAITS (SMASHING PUMPKINS), THE ARTIST SHOWS AN ALWAYS CAREFUL STUDY OF THE
CHARACTER OF THE PERSONALITIES BY REPROPOSING A MODERN VERSION OF THE CAPACITY
OF PSYCHOLOGICAL INTROSPECTION TRUE OF THE PORTRAITS BY TITIAN.
Certain sittings of the represented personalities follow the classic
iconography of art history, like Marylin Manson portrayed as Christ at the
Column, while the equestrian portrait of Cristina Aguilera represents the
ironic version of the paradigmatic model of the state portrait (Charles V on
horseback by Titian)
David LaChapelle is considered one of the best 10 photographers in the
world and is one of the most sought-after by editors and international stars.
His great capacity consists in playing around with contrasts and mixing the
languages of advertisement and photo reportage by using a personal style
characterized by saturated colors and extreme atmospheres.
The "New York Times Magazine" defines him "the Fellini of
photography" for the visionary settings and the narrative capacity that
allow him to tell a story with the use of a single image, almost a still more
than a photo.
His surreal, extravagant, exuberant, erotic, extreme, grotesque,
impossible but equally fascinating and at times obscene images become the
mirror of our time: vulgar, caotic, shameless, hedonistic and inane. David La
Chapelle proves to be a faithful reporter of the contemporary world.
The continuous and tireless research of originality by La Chapelle has
now become a legend in the world of fashion and communication.
David La Chapelle was born in Forminghton, Connecticut. In 1978 he moved
to New York where he worked with Andy Warhol for "Interview" until
1987. At 24 he was already famous for his photo shoots for "Vogue",
"Vanity Fair", "The Face", "Rolling Stone",
"Vibe", "I-D", "Arena", "The New York Time
Magazine", "The London Sunday Times". In 1995 "Photo"
and "American Photo" acknowledged him as best photographer of the
year. In 1996 his first book LaChapelle Land was a sold out. In 1998 he
received the prestigious award by "Life" Alfred Eisenstadt Awards for
having developed the most interesting photographic style of the year. In 1999
Hotel LaChapelle , his second book, becomes a best seller. During his career he
has worked with the most famous people in the fashion and star system like Jean
Paul Gaultier and Armani. He shot the short film Salvation Armani and numerous
music videos. He created advertising campaigns for such prestigious accounts as
"Lavazza", "L'Oreal", "Iceberg", "MTV",
"Diesel", and covers for records by Madonna, Elton John, Whitney
Houston, Macy Gray and Moby.
In the last few years La Chapelle has directed music videos like Natural
Blues for Moby that won the prize for best video of the year at the MTV Europe
Music Award in 2000 and also directed Rize that will be shortly coming out.
David La Chapelle lives and works in New York and Los Angeles.
V.I.P. – Very Important Portraits has come off with the patronage of:
Soprintendenza
Speciale per il Polo Museale napoletano
And the contribution of:
Regione Campania
Provincia di Napoli -
Assessorato ai Beni Culturali
Comune di Napoli -
Assessorato ai Beni Culturali
Camera di Commercio
Federazione Ance
Campania
Banca Popolare di
Ancona
Camomilla Italia
Napoletana Gas
and the technical support of:
Grand Hotel Vesuvio
Il Denaro
G.Corbo Trasporti.
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