STATEMENT. Franco Donaggio

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1 FRANCO DONAGGIO REFLECTIONS

2 STATEMENT In my dimension as an artist, photography is a tool for inner knowledge, a shamanist practise to go somewhere else. As an artist I use the photographic medium like the scalpel of the surgeon to incise daily life searching for hidden places in my mental territories, where echoes of real world arrive filtered. Here the photographic reality is nearly forgotten and replaced by something else Franco Donaggio

3 REFLECTIONS I live the lagoon as a place of cult suspended between the earth and the sky. Absorbed in my reflections I contemplate the cradle of my origins. I think about my father and my mother. I think about my story. I think about a future choked by the magic of a present that I would like to be without end... Franco Donaggio

4 GRAPHICAL SIGNS AS UNIVERSAL SYNTESIS by Italo Zannier During the second post-war period, when the ideological ferment was particularly lively, photography was divided into the graphic and the neorealist photography. The latter seemed to gain the upper hand, especially from a political point of view, thanks to its commitment to social issues and humanistic provocation (at least apparently). In photography Paul Strand and Henri Cartier Bresson were the winning figures, above all the latter, being an explicit narrator of the comédie humaine, while the masters Aaron Siskind and Harry Callahan focused mainly on a more private and unusual interpretation of the landscape, which was far from the views of the coeval Ansel Adams or Edward Weston, that were instead full-bodied, matter-like and sometimes even slimy. Siskind s and Callahan s minimalism, often essential for rendering the bodies of the subjects less thick, was also bitterly attacked by pre-eminent sociologists of those days, and even charged with inert formalism and hedonistic amateur practise (at least this is what I remember!), notwithstanding Steichen s approval, who was smartly aimed at surpassing patterns of thought and immanent rhetoric and willing to accept new graphic formulas. Expressive forms historically implicit in Photography that in those days was living just like the other art forms a strong, even exasperated dialectic between realism and abstractionism, between sociologic objectiveness and (abstract and surreal) dream of reality. But all the images are like that in the end, including those more rare and however polluted which are not photo images. Franco Donaggio has lived that same season later on, twenty years after, when by the time many pre-concepts had been clarified, even if with many difficulties. He faced with imagination the Idea of an enchanted metaphysical world. A filtered almost curried universe, so cleaned out as to reach the purity of the significant sign through a synthesis of the elements that must be essential in order to express simultaneously a suggestive concept of reality (here of oneiric reality), and sometimes even distressing like in a nightmare of a nocturnal dream found at dawn, in Photography. When thinking about Italian artists, Donaggio seems to me, without knowing or willing it, a Luigi Veronesi s or a Bruno Munari s hypothetical disciple ; besides, many of his images seem to derive from oriental symbolists for their voluptuous style embroidered with virtuosity, including also the photo illustrating a couple of flying seagulls. Franco Donaggio s photography goes against the mainstream, at last! An exercise for the eyes which proposes an harmonically structured Eden with lights and essential signs that invite us to discover the harmony of a landscape, perhaps not a daily one, but however intriguing as a concept, as a philosophy of the intimate reality, which is less known and here iconically recognisable.

5 THE MIRROR OF MEMORY by Mariateresa Cerretelli The dazzled eyes follow the hypnotic and crystal effect of the water, dancing among the shoals, the fishing-nets and the seagulls, plunging into the silent tune of the images and getting lost in the search after infinity beyond the horizon line. Interval among sky, earth and sea, seductive charming mermaid who chains poets and dreamers, the lagoon of Veneto becomes, in Franco Donaggio s photography, the representation of a personal universe. It is the memory of your own origins, the broad space of childhood and of play, the reflection of an inner world, the chosen place where to dream, the delicate caress of memories and a hymn of the soul to contemplation and rest. Franco Donaggio has chosen once more a new theme to express his richness of languages. And exploring past and present life he is carried away with his natural emotional stream, without offering resistance. But this symbolic sea where the artist was born and grown up and that was chosen to be an intimate and profound diary, narrates sensations and feelings which transcend the individual experience to reach - through the magic photographic alchemy - the mind and the heart of every man. In the scenario of this natural landscape, the water takes on evocative connotations by the vibrant light of silver reflections and by the dark density of details, communicating a deep sense of peace, of beauty and of sweet nostalgia. And the recurrent oneiric mark which follows like an invisible thread all the artist s works, also in this case pervades all the photographs adding, if possible, even more charm and mystery. The photographic series, theatre of thoughts and insights, strongly underlines also the vital pulsation of the lagoon, a motherly womb and a safe shelter where life grows at a handful of miles away from the deep sea, where everything follows the rhythm of a constant movement. In order to engrave his sharp and refined black and white, Franco Donaggio has covered all the lagoon that he knows like the back of his hand, fixing in the eyes dreams and reality and designing his water paradise by wise and calibrated touches. This is an extraordinary story written on the wings of emotion through digital images that demonstrates once again that, away from any academic stiffening, photography is actually art, music and poetry. Reflections is a love song, a travel into a mysterious and ardent immensity that invites us to dream. Or to follow Giacomo Leopardi s silent infinity "...e il naufragar m'è dolce in questo mare" " and shipwreck seems sweet to me in this sea".

6 WORK

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47 Technical informations Reflections was created in This series includes 40 images in limited editions: edition of 25, printed with lambda system on metallic paper 34x50 cm, numbered and signed on the back. edition of 10, printed with lambda system on metallic paper variable in size (larger than 34x50 cm.) numbered and signed on the back.

Franco Donaggio was born in Chioggia, in the province of Venice, in 1958. In 1979 Donaggio moved to Milan, where he began working creatively in the in the field of advertising and graphic design.

48 Franco Donaggio was born in Chioggia, in the province of Venice, in In 1979 Donaggio moved to Milan, where he began working creatively in the in the field of advertising and graphic design. In 1980 he opened his own photographic studio in the city. His high skill and constant experimentation in all the darkroom and shooting techniques soon lead the author to study in depth new aesthetic languages, which constantly renew his professional and creative level. In 1992 he is awarded the Pubblicità Italia price for still life photography. In 1995 he realizes his first major project called Metaportraits, thanks to which he wins the Italian Kodak Gold Award for creativity portrait in Donaggio dedicates himself more and more to fine art photography and starts a close collaboration with Joel Soroka Gallery in Aspen, which represents him for the North American sales collection market. Since then, he has attended the principal photo art trade fairs through the United States such as Photo LA, Los Angeles, Aipad show, New York, Art Fair Chicago. Donaggio s fine art works have been exhibited in numerous Italian, European and North American galleries and museums and some of his photographs are included in several public and private art collections. Besides, Donaggio has joined the judging panel at IED of Milan for the students' final degree, has been visiting professor at Accademia di Brera in Milan, at the Italian Institute of Photography of Milan and at the Ca' Foscari University in Venice.

49 SOLO SHOW 2013 A.F.I. DIGIGRAPHIE PHOTO FESTIVAL Villa Pomini, Castellanza (Va), Italy Reflections. Gli Orti di Leonardo, Milano, Italy - Silenzi Before the Dawn - Reflections. Galleria Amy D Arte Spazio, Milano, Italy - I Luoghi della Mente Station - Before the Dawn The Morpheus Spaces Galleria Sabrina Raffaghello Arte Contemporanea Alessandria, Italy - Reflections. Catalogue. 3 FESTIVAL FOTOGRAFICO ITALIANO - Museo Marliani Cicogna Busto Arsizio, Italy - Before the Dawn. Catalogue. MIA Milan Image Art Fair, Milan, Italy - Before the Dawn. Catalogue Museo Civico, Chioggia, Italy - Reflections. Catalogue. Manege Contemporary Art Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia. Masterclass. Metaritratti - Urbis - Riflessioni. Catalogue. Spazio Rem, Milano, Italy - Urbis. Catalogue. Civica Fototeca Nazionale, Sesto S. Giovanni, Italy - Station. Catalogue Joel Soroka Gallery, Aspen, USA - Before the Dawn. Green Days - Piazza Garibaldi, Ravenna, Italy - Reflections Centro Culturale Candiani, Mestre, Italy - Reflections. Galleria Wabi, Milano, Italy - Before the Dawn. Catalogue. AD Place, Venezia, Italy - Before the Dawn. Abbazia di Pomposa, Ferrara, Italy - Reflections. Spazio Virgilio Carbonari, Seriate, Italy - Before the Dawn. Catalogue Waterland - Benham Gallery, Seattle USA - Reflections. Galerie Célal, Paris Reflections. Catalogue Lucca Digital Photofest, Palazzo Guinigi, Lucca, Italy - Reflections, Catalogue. Joel Soroka Gallery, Aspen, USA - Reflections Foianofotografia 2006, Foiano della Chiana, Italy - Urbis. Catalogo Joel Soroka Gallery, Aspen, USA - Urbis Museo Gracco, Pompei, Italy Metaportraits Spazio Agfa, Milano, Italy - Metaportraits. Spazio Bramante - Onirica - Fermignano, Italy Metaportraits, Station Spazio Fiaf, Schio, Italy - Metaportraits. Melkweg Gallery, Amsterdam, NL- Metaportraits. Joel Soroka Gallery, Aspen, USA - Metaportraits. Maison des Arts, Croatia - Metaportraits.

50 Civic Museum, Rovinj, Croatia - Metaportraits. Cultural Centre, Pazin, Croatia - Metaportraits. Popular Museum, Buzet, Croatia - Metaportraits. Galleria del Centro Culturale Francese, Palermo, Italy - Metaportraits. Galerie Patrik Vicqueray, Brussels, Belgium - Metaportraits. GROUP SHOW 2013 AIPAD Show, New York - Joel Soroka Gallery, Aspen, USA. Metaportraits - Reflections - Station ART MIAMI Joel Soroka Gallery. Miami, USA. Reflections. PHOTO SELECTIONS - Spazio Tadini - Opere scelte dal 3 Festival Fotografico Italiano. Milano, Italy. Before the Dawn. Catalogue. LA SFIDA DELLA FOTOGRAFIA Spazi espositivi via Bertossi, Pordenone, Italy - Before the Dawn. Catalogue. AIPAD Show, New York - Joel Soroka Gallery, Aspen, USA. Reflections ESPOSIZIONE INTERNAZIONALE D ARTE DELLA BIENNALE DI VENEZIA a cura di Vittorio Sgarbi, Palazzo delle Esposizioni - Sala Nervi, Torino, Italy - Before the Dawn. Catalogue. FOTO / GRAFIA, Galleria Elleni, Bergamo - Reflections. A.I.P.A.D. Show, group show at Joel Soroka Gallery, New York, USA Seeing Space, Forte di Bard, Valle d Aosta, Italy - Urbis. Catalogue. Casa d arte Artribù, Roma - Reflections. Galleria Elleni - L incanto del paesaggio, Bergamo, Italy - Before the Dawn. Catalogue. ASAV 100, , Opere acquisite alla collezione pubblica - Virgilio Carbonari Space, Palazzo Comunale, Seriate, Italy. Catalogue Cristiani Art Gallery, Torino, Italy - Sedimenti. Turin Photo Festival Galleria Ikebò, Torino, Italy - Reflections. Catalogue. Immagimondo, Centro Culturale Fatebenefratelli, Valmadrera, Italy - Before the Dawn. SEEING SPACE Urbis, mostra itinerante: Palazzo Foscolo, Oderzo, Italy Palazzo Sertoli, Sondrio, Italy Palazzo San Domenico, Crema, Italy Museo La Civitella, Chieti, Italy Fortezza del Priàmar, Savona, Italy Catalogue. 5 VISIONI D ARTISTA, Ex chiesa Mater Misericordiae, Casale Monferrato, Italy. Prima Visione, Galleria Belvedere, Milano, Italy - Before the Dawn Photographies, Galerie Celàl, Paris Photo Paris - Reflections. Seeing Space, Lingotto di Torino - Torino, Italy - Urbis. Catalogue. Photography People, Wave Photogallery, Brescia, Italy - Urbis.

51 2007 Il Diaframma di Lanfranco Colombo, una storia Italiana, Museo Centrale Montemartini, Roma Metaportraits. Photo LA 2007, Joel Soroka Gallery. Los Angeles, USA. Station, Metaportraits. A.I.P.A.D. Show, Soroka Gallery. New York, USA. Station, Metaportraits Chicago Art Fair, Joel Soroka Gallery. Chicago, USA. Metaportraits. Photo LA 2005, Joel Soroka Gallery. Los Angeles, USA. Metaportraits I diritti dei bambini, Castello Sforzesco, Sala Viscontea, Milano Paesaggi della Mente e dell'anima, Museo d Arte Moderna, Gazoldo degli Ippoliti, Mantova, Italy - Station. Catalogue A.I.P.A.D. Show, Joel Soroka Gallery. New York, USA. Metaportraits (R)evolution, Museo della Scienza e della Tecnica Leonardo da Vinci, Milano, Italy. Catalogue Incontri Professionali Mediterranei, Polizzi Generosa, Italy - Metaportraits. Catalogue Il Ritratto Maltrattato, Palazzo Vendermini, Forli, Italy - Metaportraits Il Ritratto Maltrattato, Galleria Il Diaframma Kodak, Milano, Italy - Metaportraits C è ancora spazio per l ottimismo? Cento fofografi per un idea, Galleria del Credito Valtellinese, Milano, Italy - catalogue. AWARDS 1996 Kodak Gold Award for creatività in portrait Gran Prix Pubblicità Italia for still life. REVIEWS VIS a VIS - France PHOTO REWIEW - U.S.A. POETRY REWIEW - U.S.A PHOTODOM MAGAZINE - Taiwan D e D - Australia LA FOTOGRAFIA - Spaign PRO LIGHTING - Britain FOTO REFLEX Mexico JULIET art magazine - Italy ARTE - Italy LUK - Italy ARTE Italy LINEAGRAFICA - Italy GENTE DI FOTOGRAFIA - Italy ZOOM - Italy LA CLESSIDRA - Italy FOTOPRATICA IMMAGINI - Italy

52 PROGRESSO FOTOGRAFICO - Italy IL FOTOGRAFO - Italy FOTO CULT - Italy AGFA CLIP MAGAZINE - Italy TUTTI FOTOGRAFI - Italy GLOBAL - Italy LIVING IN MILAN - Italy AVVENIRE Italy COLLECTIONS COLLEZIONE FENDI - Roma BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE DE FRANCE - Parigi COLLEZIONE DELLA FAMIGLIA REALE SAUDITA - Arabia Saudita CENTRO INTERNAZIONALE DI FOTOGRAFIA DEGLI SCALI SCALIGERI - Verona FONDAZIONE 3M - Milano San Felice MUSEO DI CASALE MONFERRATO - Casale Monferrato ROBERTO MUTTI - Milano COLLEZIONE PUBBLICA ASAV - Seriate ESSAYS Jacqueline Ceresoli, Roberto Mutti, Italo Zannier, Denis Curti, Alessia Pizzi, Maiter Ferrario, Mariateresa Cerretelli, Donato Di Poce, Fausto Raschiatore, Umberto Armiraglio, Cecilia Ci, Rosanna Checchi, Gianna Braghin, Giovanni Baule, Roberto Tomesani, Barbara Cinquanta, Amedeo Sessa, Rino Giardiello, Simone Soldera, Carlos Alcatraz, H. Manfred Butler, Helena Tovar Gàlvez. FRANCO DONAGGIO Via Pola, Milano Tel./fax Cell info@donaggioart.it

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