He is one of the most famous names of Italian photography internationally known. For thirty years, He is working with major fashion magazines and is one of the great protagonists of advertising. He lives and works in Milan, when professional commitments do not wear it around the world. He works primarily in large-format Polaroids and the optical bench 20 × 25.
Lover of experimentation, introduced in fashion photography contemporary techniques “old mix” the technique “cross”, rework paintings and still life ironic. Heir of the aristocratic and sophisticated style that characterizes the ancient noblesse Milan (He is the grandson of Luchino Visconti), is reflected in its culture, style, elegance and charm. Sometimes rarefied, dreamlike and symbolic, sometimes surreal, his images tell an unstoppable path of creative research which, read backwards, reflects the evolution of the custom of the past twenty-five years. Four volumes published so far: Gastel for Women (Edimoda, Milan 1991), The jewels of fantasy (published by Idea Books, Milan, 1991), the catalog Gastel on the occasion of his show at the Milan Triennale of 1997, curated by Germano Celant, Genesis (Nava Milano 2007), Giovanni Gastel Masks and Ghosts (Skira 2009) on the occasion of his staff at the Palazzo della Ragione in Milan in September 2009, curated by Germano Celant, Piero Lissoni Recent Architecture (Hatje Canz 2010), Visitors Views (Silvana Publisher 2011 ) on the occasion of his show at Galleria Gian Galeazzo Visconti of Milan in September 2011, Poltrona Frau, Manual dexterity (Rizzoli Editore 2012), Look Beyond (Skira, 2013) and the Making of the nobility (Electa, 2013).
His active involvement in the world of photography brings him closer even all’AFIP (Professional Italian Photographers Association), of which he was President from 1996 to 1998, since then it has remained honorary president until his new appointment as President in 2012. Among major advertising campaigns and hundreds of editorials, author pursues his own personal research devoted to art photography.
www.giovannigastel.it
(Photo by Filippo Avandero)
