Mario Testino Exhibition, Lima
Finally got the chance to go to the gallery of the fashion and art photographer, Mario Testino.
After an hour getting lost in the city, having to ask for directions and not being able to speak a word of Spanish (luckily when I mentioned the photographer’s name, they knew where I was trying to get to) I reached the elusive building. On the outside it’s surprisingly modest yet very pretty. I guess Testino didn’t want to ruin the landscape of his hometown. But once inside, with its huge glass doors and grey walls, you really start to feel the atmosphere build up, and when you see the work, you understand why.
Although it looks like something you see all the time in magazines etc, I’m reminded how unique his work was in the early 90’s. The images displayed in the gallery are huge and you can see just how powerful they were in colour and clarity. The fashion world stood and paid attention as he offered something no one else could at the time.
In the next room, there’s a huge collection of celebrities he’s photographed over the years. You can tell how his notoriety has had them falling over themselves to work with him, looking closely at them, you can see why...he does a talent for making the look stunning.
The installation room is Testino talking about his work. You are surrounded by walls of moving images and while you are seated in the middle, he takes you through his history of how he came to where he is now.
In the next part of the gallery you can see how he is starting to pull away from the glamorous world of celebrity and fashion. You can tell he’s trying to make his work his own again rather than catering for the needs of the rich and famous. His ethnic background is being expressed through the different cultures he has wanted to work with, as well as the colourful textiles.
It is only when you go to the top floor of the gallery, that you see where he has really come into his own.
This is his Alta Moda collection. They are portraits of a Peruvian community in Ccatcca, Cusco, in their carnival costume. I don’t know exactly why he chose not to showcase this work internationally, as it is his best work yet. The passion and love for his country really shines through. Perhaps it’s to respect the local people who agreed to pose for him, or the fact that just wants keep his prized pieces in his own little gallery for safe keeping. Whatever the reason, snapshots of this work doesn’t do it justice, it really needs to seen to be believed.
