giannigrattacaso

I was born in a small town in southern Italy in 1952, Paestum, a place rich in history and myths ...
Currently I live and work in Agropoli in the "Cilento National Park," a land that inspires most of my art work ....
All started during one evening, long time ago, while my friend, Aurelio, was fumbling in a dark room, lit only by a faint red light. That evening I had my first experience with the magic of the darkroom. The smell of chemistry and an image that appears out of nowhere. I was contaminated. After more than 40 years, since that night, I am still happily "sick" of photography...
In the following years I have spent a lot of time studying and experimenting to learn photographic techniques, from shooting to final print.
My first solo exhibition was in 1990, entitled Presence-Absence, with which I experienced a newer vision of the dream, of the reality and of metaphysics. More solo and collective exhibitions will take place gradually over the years, in Agropoli, the city where I live, in Salerno, Cava dei Tirreni, Amalfi and in many other Italian and foreign cities.
The Black & White has dominated my production for years and I like to believe that the main reason of this choice is that the lack of the color takes me away from reality.
The advent of digital technology has generated in me mixed feelings, conflict at the beginning, regeneration after.
Today, with ease, I step from the film to the pixels and often I use them both, togheter, for the same work.
So as not to miss anything, just a few years ago, I discovered the instant film: Polaroid, Fuji and Impossible Project. Another good "virus", another phase of my creative activity, another "ingredient" for the creation of other exciting "recipes".