Mario Cresci on Luigi Ghirri, Conceptual Photography, and the South of Italy
Mario Cresci, who was born in Chiavari in 1942, reminisces about his professional journey and his bond with Luigi Ghirri, whom he encountered in Milan in 1972. Initially perceiving Ghirri as someone attempting to adopt American styles, Cresci eventually acknowledged his brilliance, which was inspired by Walker Evans. After attending a conference on photography's relationship with various fields, Cresci curated the 'Viaggio in Italia' exhibition in Bari, at Ghirri's invitation. He pursued industrial design studies in Venice under Italo Zannier and collaborated with Gae Aulenti in Milan. In Rome, he captured the first Arte Povera exhibition and documented events at Galleria L'Attico. After relocating to Tricarico in 1970, he produced works such as 'Interni mossi' and 'Ritratti reali,' while also prioritizing teaching in Modena and Urbino.
Key facts
- Mario Cresci was born in Chiavari, Genoa, in 1942.
- He met Luigi Ghirri in Milan in 1972.
- Cresci helped organize the 'Viaggio in Italia' exhibition in Bari.
- He studied industrial design in Venice under Italo Zannier.
- Gae Aulenti encouraged him to pursue photography.
- He documented shows at Galleria L'Attico for artists like Pascali, Mattiacci, and Kounellis.
- He photographed the first Arte Povera exhibition for Mara Coccia.
- He moved to Tricarico, Basilicata, in 1970.
- His series include 'Interni mossi' (1967), 'Ritratti reali' (1972), and 'Fotogrammi d'affezione' (1967).
- He made the film 'Cronistorie' (1970).
- In 2010, he created 'Attraverso l’arte' at Pinacoteca Nazionale in Bologna.
- He teaches in Modena and Urbino.
Entities
Artists
- Mario Cresci
- Luigi Ghirri
- Walker Evans
- Italo Zannier
- Gae Aulenti
- Fabio Sargentini
- Pascali
- Mattiacci
- Kounellis
- Boetti
- Pistoletto
- Mara Coccia
- Claudio Costa
- Rocco Scotellaro
- Ernesto De Martino
- Giuseppe Di Vittorio
- Ugo Mulas
- Luciano Inga Pin
- Franco Vaccari
- Cioni Carpi
- Mimmo Paladino
- Giandomenico Tiepolo
- Luigi Ficacci
- Josef Koudelka
- Robert Frank
- Paolini
- Aldo Musacchio
- Ferruccio Orioli
- Raffaele Panella
- Massironi
- Chiggio
- Argan
- Paola Borgonzoni
- Wim Wenders
- Peter Handke
- Joan Baez
- Bob Dylan
- Angela Madesani
- Lara Morello
Institutions
- Diaframma di Lanfranco Colombo
- 291 di Daniela Palazzoli
- Galleria L'Attico
- Arco d'Alibert
- Galleria Diagramma
- Trisorio
- Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna
- Corso Superiore di Industrial Design di Venezia
- Rotary
- Gruppo Enne di Padova
- Touring Club Italiano
- Artribune Magazine
- Artribune
Locations
- Chiavari
- Genoa
- Italy
- Milan
- Bari
- Modena
- Venice
- Padua
- Tricarico
- Basilicata
- Rome
- Paris
- Barbarano Romano
- Naples
- Bologna
- Urbino
- Matera
- Sicily
- Bergamo
- Ca' Rezzonico
- Venezia