Andy Warhol - Alchemist of the Sixties
Villa Reale di Monza, Orangerie - Until April 28th 2019

Not everyone knows that Andy Warhol, the artist considered one of the absolute masters of the twentieth century for his ability to interpret contemporary society, has worked with Loredana Bertè. The Italian queen of rock in 1981 went to New York to record the album Made In Italy, and at that time attended the Factory, the creative temple of the master of Pop Art, also earning the nickname of Pasta Queen for her culinary talents.
The creator of serial art and the most nonconformist Italian artist collaborated on the realization of the album with the video clip Movie, directed by Don Munroe, and the cover photo, an intense close-up of the singer captured by the ability by Christopher Makos, an apprentice of Man Ray and considered the most modern photographer in America.

To see live this little work of art, the right occasion is the exhibition dedicated to Andy Warhol at the Villa Reale in Monza. An exhibition that allows you to retrace the creative universe of contemporary art giant through the most recognizable icons of his art: from Marilyn Monroe to Jackie Kennedy, from Muhammad Alì to Mao Tse-Tung to Liza Minelli.

The sexual revolution is also analyzed, of which Warhol was a witness, without forgetting that he was one of the main architects of the liberation of customs. In particular, you can see close up photos of Makos portraying the master in women's clothes and the film Women in revolt, shot in New York in 1971 and dubbed in the Italian version by Vladimir Luxuria.

From May 9th this exhibition will move to 3 historic Apulian palaces: the Norman Swabian Castle of Mesagne, the Tanzarella Palace in Ostuni and the Ducal Palace of Martina Franca

Portrait of Andy Warho, Leo Castelli Gallery, 1982, poster of the exhibition; courtesy of Marco Rettani, Swiss Collection, and two serigraphies on the Camouflage theme

To find out something about a master of contemporary photography, today there is the Oliviero Toscani Bazaar online shop; 100 photographs each in 4 formats and declined in as many price ranges. A unique opportunity to explore the world of the provocative and irreverent Italian creative, author of many advertising campaigns that have mixed current events and commercial communication.

An unmistakable touch

His photos have always been discussed. San Francesco, the latest in a long series created for Benetton commercials, is from 2019 and portrays a group of young people without veils is an anthem against civil wars, mafias, urban violence, ethnic conflicts, against fault wars and religion, against terrorism and against all resurgent racisms.

The collaboration with Andy Warhol

The author has also made a lot of talk about himself for the portraits of characters who have gone down in history. For example, in 1975 he managed to persuade his friend and Pop Art exponent to pose for a fashion shoot in his studio in Canargie Hall in New York, persuading Andy Warhol to wear clothes he would not choose. When, years later, he came to Italy, he told Toscani that people on the street recognized him because they had seen him in "Vogue".

The 5 jobs of the photographer

Oliviero Toscani's photographs always send a message, and have such an irresistible appeal for his particular approach. “More and more advanced mobile phones allow anyone the opportunity to take incredible shots. But this is not enough to create something memorable and leave its mark. The photographer must combine at least five different professions: he must be author, screenwriter, set designer, director, director of photography and also cameramen, or whoever shoots, but only after having been everything else. If he succeeds, he will be ready for Formula 1, otherwise in life he will only be a chauffeur" said in an interview with corriere.it.