David LaChapelle on faith, miracles, and his MUDEC exhibition in Milan

David LaChapelle, the 53-year-old photographer from Connecticut who began his career in 1980s New York under Andy Warhol at Interview magazine, is the subject of a major exhibition at MUDEC in Milan titled "LaChapelle. I Believe in Miracles," running until September 11, 2022. The show features over 90 works curated by Reiner Opoku and Denis Curti, presenting a non-linear journey through his vivid, tableau-like images that blend pop culture, classical art, biblical allegory, and contemporary issues. In an interview with Artribune, LaChapelle discusses the title's origin in his belief in miracles, his move to Hawaii in 2006, the impact of visiting the Sistine Chapel alone, and his critique of the fashion industry's obsession with darkness. He reflects on Warhol's posthumous recognition, the pandemic's reinforcement of his faith, and his current life without cellphones in Hawaii, emphasizing solitude and nature as shields against distraction and materialism.