Rome, Palazzo Bonaparte
MARIO TESTINO: A BEAUTIFUL WORLD
Designed by Mario Testino
Presented by Arthemisia
Curated by Patrick Kinmonth
Rome, 24 May 2024
“When I started taking photos for “A Beautifil World” I thought I was driven first of all by curiosity and secondly by the desire to document traditions that were disappearing. As the project evolved I understood that I was driven by a desire to understand the concept of belonging. Our identity is given to us first and foremost by the place where we are born and raised regardless of whether we admit it or not. In fact, regardless of where we go we will always take it with us. But the true beauty of the world is revealed to us by finding ourselves in others.” MARIO TESTINO
With his cheeky radiance and ability to enhance a healthy and cheerful beauty, the Peruvian photographer Mario Testino has embodied the desires and projections of our era. It’s hard not to want to be the protagonist of one of his shots, where everything appears absolutely seductive. Today, Testino is considered one of the most celebrated and sought-after fashion photographers alive. His works have helped create the image of major fashion houses such as Burberry, Gucci, Calvin Klein, Yves Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana and Versace. He currently collaborates with the main international fashion magazines, including the American, French and Italian editions of Vogue, The Face and Vanity Fair. Some of his photographic works are exhibited in prestigious institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts in New York and the FAAP in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He has also published numerous books, including “Any Objections,” “Front Row / Backstage” and “Alive.” Great scrupulousness, passion for image and experimentation are the distinctive characteristics of Testino, considered a true “creator of icons.” He is credited with having put an end to the “reign” of supermodels and, in the early nineties, with having given birth to a new generation of less flashy models. In his portraits, nothing is left to chance. Behind the apparent nonchalance there is always meticulous preparation, a precise choice of lights and colors, and team work directed with extreme care, similar to a director during the making of a film. His style has been described as “luxury realism”: each character photographed by Testino is deliberately made special, while maintaining the salient traits of their personality. 
In recent years, the famous photographer has put his experience at the service of another way of storytelling, dedicating himself to the theme of travel and the portrait of the cultures encountered along the way. Although the context in which he works has changed, his attention continues to be directed towards clothes, symbols of tradition and folklore. “Mario Testino. A Beautiful World,” the exhibition arriving at Palazzo Bonaparte in Rome from 25 May to 25 August 2024, showcases the very shots with which Testino narrates the world and its customs, expressions of the history and identity of the populations. As a fashion photographer, Mario Testino’s presence has always been a constant element in the image design and creation process. It was he who chose the reaction he wanted to elicit with his images of him. However, in “A Beautiful World,” Testino takes on a different role: that of a simple witness. In this new role, he simply contemplates and makes the subjects look their best, showing who they are without interfering too much. The photographic exhibition is a testimony of how clothing is a symbol of belonging to a community. Many of the clothes portrayed refer to specific geographical places, representing the traditions and customs of the place of birth and growth. Furthermore, the way of dressing also reflects religious beliefs, personal beliefs, rites and ceremonies. 
Clothing can be used to fight, perform, play a sport or identify a specific job role. Some individuals apply the concept of “transgression” to their clothing, using clothing as a tool to resist tradition. The clothes chosen express dissent and diversity not only aesthetically, but also culturally and personally, influenced by musical tastes or sexual orientation. Mario Testino is interested in clothing for its ability to express individuals’ identity and sense of belonging. The layout of the “A Beautiful World” exhibition has a strong visual impact, with large images arranged closely together, creating an almost obsessive effect. The light is sparse and focused, emphasizing the three-dimensionality and vividness of the images, already enhanced by the color choices. The large format contributes to visual quality, but recent technologies tend to exacerbate the search for perfection. The representation of beauty in “A Beautiful World” is less crystallized on a specific idea and reflects a more open vision. Testino discovered beauty in new places, while in fashion he adapted his idea of beauty to a predefined and codified world. 
He uses a 35mm camera, as he did in fashion, always wanting each image to maintain a certain lightness. Even with the large format, he believes that something is lost by revealing every little detail, always trying to convey that “something more”. Produced and organized by Arthemisia, the exhibition project at Palazzo Bonaparte was conceived and curated by Mario Testino himself to share with the public his visions collected from all over the world. The exhibition “Mario Testino – A Beautiful World” invites us to look beyond appearances, recognizing the beauty in every detail. It tells of the wonder and complexity of a world to be known and preserved for future generations. This extraordinary opportunity is absolutely not to be missed. Photocredit©MarioTestino
