In 1999, Babeth Djian — fashion editor and avant-garde
stylist — founded Numéro, a Parisian magazine now famous for its
unique and bold aesthetic combining fashion and contemporary
art. From the first issue, then very regularly, Babeth gives Guido
Mocafico carte blanche for the closing pages of the magazine.
Free and suffering no diktat, the photographer takes the opportunity
to create immutable and provocative still lifes the major genres
in photography such as architecture, landscape, or nude. This platform, a place of innovation and experimentation, allows him to
give free rein to his imagination, to offer an offbeat, critical look
at our contemporary world made of vanity.
In 2016, the box set Mocafico / Numéro gathered all the
series from 1999 to 2016 in 6 volumes. Here is volume 7. Italian still life photographer Guido Mocafico was born
in Switzerland; he currently divides his time between his home
in Switzerland and his studio in Paris.
Guido Mocafico has become recognized as a contemporary
master of still life. His interest in this most classic of art forms
started early whilst studying photography at Vevey School in
Switzerland. He initially focused on commercial and advertising
projects for brands such as Chanel, Clinique, Dior, Gucci, Armani
and YSL. His images have been published in numerous magazines
over the years including Vogue US, Vogue France, Harpers Bazaar,
The Face, and Wallpaper and Numéro.
About more than twenty years ago he began to develop
personal projects, separate from his commercial accomplishments;
these resulted from his personal passions. He explored his
chosen themes deeply, first with research, to gain an in-depth
understanding of his subjects.
Subject topics are varied and copious: in architecture, with his
series Brasilia/Beirut; Medusa, jellyfish; Serpens, snakes; Aranea,
spiders; Guns and Roses; Movement, fine watches; Nature Morte,
banquets and floral arrangements, an interpretation of Dutch Still
Life, and most recently Blaschka — glass models, by the father and
son duo Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka. His work has been exhibited
internationally since 1999, including venues in London, Paris,
Munich and Tokyo. Various books have been published comprising
his personal projects: Venenum (2005), Medusa (2006); Serpens
(2007); Movement (2008) and Stilleven (2012), published by Steidl.