Photography

This exhibition traces the artistic obsession with the human body

Irving Penn, Nude 55, 1949-50, Courtesy Collezione Rolla, Svizzera.

Since prehistoric times the body has dominated art making. From bulbous sculptures in Paleolithic times to avant garde performance art in the 1960s, it has provided a site through which to explore themes around what it means to be human—sexuality, beauty, gender, life and death. Look at me! The Body in Art from the 1950s, running through to January 2020 at Fondazione Ghisla Art Collection, positions the body at its heart, laying out its myriad meanings in photographs as well as video, installation and performance. 

Beginning with a 1950s’ black and white photograph by Irving Penn of a supple rounded buttocks, the exhibition presents an investigation of the body through self-portraiture and documentary photography, erotic portraits, fashion photography, performance works and gender studies. Through an impression roster of well-known names including, Marina Abramovic, Nobuyoshi Araki, Nan Goldin, Cindy Sherman, Francesca Woodman, Robert Mapplethorpe, Vanessa Beecroft and David LaChapellle, Look at me! reveals how the body continues to be a source of continuous inspiration for artists, most likely from now until forever. 

See more from the exhibition below:

Nobuyoshi Araki, Untitled, Courtesy Collezione Rolla, Svizzera
Nobuyoshi Araki Untitled, 1999 Vintage, Courtesy Collezione Dionisio Gavagnin, Treviso
Nobuyoshi Araki,Untitled, 1990, Courtesy Collezione Rolla, Svizzera
Nan Goldin, My parents kissing on her bed (2004), Courtesy Artist Guido Costa Projects
Vanessa Beecroft, VB52.98 Castello di Rivoli, Torino, 2003 Stampa cromogenica frontale su plexiglass ad incasso, Courtesy Collezione Dionisio Gavagnin, Treviso
Robert Mapplethorpe Serie Z Bob Love, N.Y.C, 1979, (dettaglio), Courtesy Collezione Martine e Pierino Ghisla-Jacquemin
Robert Mapplethorpe, Serie Z _ Bruce Thompson, San Francisco, 1980 (dettaglio), Courtesy_ Collezione Martine e Pierino Ghisla-Jacquemin
John Coplans, Body, Diptych, 1990, Stampa ai sali d’argento, cadauna, Courtesy Collezione Rolla, Svizzera.
Francesca Woodman, Untitled (Antella, Italia), 1977-78, Stampa ai sali d’argento, Courtesy, Collezione Dionisio Gavagnin, Treviso
Francesca Woodman, Untitled (1980) Vintage.
Ana Mendieta, Untitled (Silueta Series) (1978) Lifetime black-and-white photograph, Courtesy The artist, Private collection, Modena and Galleria Raffaella Cortese, Milan
Cindy Sherman, Untitled #386 (The Son) from the serie “Murder Mistery”, 1976-2000, Courtesy Collezione Dionisio Gavagnin, Treviso
Shirin Neshat, Woman of Allah, 1994 Stampa fotografica ai sali d’argento, ritoccata a mano con inchiostro. Courtesy Galleria Fumagalli, Milano
Luigi Ontani, Dante Grillo et Sette Arti Cinorodeo, 1975, Fotografia a colori, Courtesy Collezione Dionisio Gavagnin, Treviso
Andreas Serrano, A History of Sex (Antonio and Ulrika), Courtesy Galleria Pack
David Lachapelle, The Kingdome Come (2009), Courtesy Collezione Martine e Pierino Ghisla-Jacquemin
Marina Abramovic, Relation in Space, 1977

Look at me! The Body in Art from the 1950s runs through to 5 January 2020 at Fondazione Ghisla Art Collection.