Alberto Venzago, ein Zürcher Fotograf, verbindet in seiner Arbeit Reportage und Werbung sowie Dokumentation und Inszenierung. Zur Ausstellung seines Lebenswerks im Museum für Gestaltung Zürich ab Juli wird sein kreatives Schaffen mit weltbekannten Persönlichkeiten aus Musik, Kunst und Kultur präsentiert. Zu den prominenten Abgebildeten zählen Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Penélope Cruz und Andy Warhol, die die Vielfalt und den Einfluss seiner fotografischen Kunst verdeutlichen.
In recent years, painter and legendary art forger Wolfgang Beltracchi has embarked on a new artistic journey. Central to his latest work is an extensive series of paintings, titled The Greats, which are being sold as digital artworks through NFT technology. This series was inspired by the Salvator Mundi, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, which fetched $450 million at a 2017 Christie’s auction. Beltracchi meticulously studied the painting, creating several hundred versions in diverse styles, from high renaissance to pop art, even reimagining Jesus as figures like Mick Jagger or Mao Zedong. The result is a captivating exploration of deception and symbolism surrounding the controversial artwork. This large-format, German-language book features photographic insights into Beltracchi's studio life by renowned Swiss photographer Alberto Venzago, alongside documentation of The Greats collection. Contributions include texts from Stanford University professor emeritus Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht, philosophers Peter Sloterdijk and Markus Gabriel, journalist Ulrike Posche, finance executive Leonhard Fischer, NFT expert Hansen Wang, and Venzago. A conversation between Beltracchi and Swiss writer René Scheu enriches this volume, offering diverse perspectives on the phenomenon of this extraordinary artist.
The book showcases nearly 200 striking images by self-taught photographer and filmmaker Alberto Venzago, capturing a diverse range of subjects from iconic figures like Andy Warhol to remote indigenous communities. His work spans various global locations, including the Pentagon and the rainforests of Sarawak. Venzago's unique talent lies in his ability to transform his subjects into performers for his lens, creating unforgettable moments that reflect his extensive travels and keen artistic vision.
An unprecedented glimpse into the mysterious world of Voodoo, this spellbinding companion to an upcoming documentary produced by Wim Wenders presents photos and film stills by celebrated photojournalist Alberto Venzago. In 1988, Albert Venzago set out to cross Africa on a Vespa. After miles in the blistering heat, it broke down in a remote village in Benin. There he encountered Mahounon, one of the most influential voodoo priests of West Africa. Abandoning his planned trip, Venzago set out instead on an odyssey through the world of African voodoo, to which he and his camera gained extraordinary access. The result is a groundbreaking new documentary and this accompanying book. Venzago followed Mahounon with his camera for nearly ten years, filming secret Voodoo ceremonies and sacrificial rituals. He witnessed Mahounon’s extraordinary search for a successor to lead the cult, and he watched as the anointed eleven-year old boy was schooled in black and white magic, rituals, and the intricate workings of the Fa, or Voodoo oracle. Venzago’s camera evokes the religious ecstasy of these ceremonies as well as their otherworldly atmosphere. His photographs illuminate this mysterious and potent Voodoo culture and religion.
