Grace & Shadows
Reneque - Glicée print on 320GSM Hahnemühle Photo Rag Pearl
Size 841 x 1189 mm (including frame: 850 x 1198 mm)
Limited edition 1/1 - £1.200
Nkechi - Glicée print on 320GSM Hahnemühle Photo Rag Pearl
Size 841 x 1189 mm (including frame: 850 x 1198 mm)
Limited edition 1/1 - £1.200
Elizabeth - Glicée print on 320GSM Hahnemühle Photo Rag Pearl
Size 841 x 1189 mm (including frame: 850 x 1198 mm)
Limited edition 1/1 - £1.200
Jesika - Glicée print on 320GSM Hahnemühle Photo Rag Pearl
Size 841 x 1189 mm (including frame: 850 x 1198 mm)
Limited edition 1/1 - £1.200
Añubis - Glicée print on 320GSM Hahnemühle Photo Rag Pearl
Size 841 x 1189 mm (including frame: 850 x 1198 mm)
Limited edition 1/1 - £1.200
Ebony - Glicée print on 320GSM Hahnemühle Photo Rag Pearl
Size 841 x 1189 mm (including frame: 850 x 1198 mm)
Limited edition 1/1 - £1.200
Matto Mariotti presents Grace and Shadows, his debut solo photographic exhibition. On view from 18 October 2022, Matto’s work continues the ongoing art historical conversation on the meaning of beauty and its significance in our lives.
As a celebration of Black Beauty and the female form, Matto transforms the way we see and perceive the models before the camera. Using a single light source, the artist enhances the contrasts in the photographs, alluding to the presumptuous nature of ‘beauty’ as such, and emphasizing that it is always nuanced, endless, and personal. Stripped from societal identifiers such as make-up, clothing, and accessories, Matto’s photographic subjects represent the pureness of their inner character, challenging the viewer to join them in the process of self-exploration and celebration.
Grace and Shadows explores the question of true beauty which is often misunderstood as purely visual. Matto’s work exceeds these assumptions and uncovers the confident nature of being oneself. Untouched and unedited, the artist’s black and white photographs present the natural beauty of the female form.
The Show, it started with a thought:
What if beauty could be felt as much as it is seen? This led me to explore the idea of harmony not just visually, but as something that can be tasted, heard, and even smelled. I wanted my audience to step into a world where every detail spoke the same language of grace.
Each element—sight, sound, scent, and taste—was chosen to immerse viewers fully into the concept. My goal was to create an experience where every sense worked in harmony, inviting the audience to feel the grace and beauty I see in the subject.
Sound: "To enhance the feeling of roundness, I selected music with soft, circular melodies that evoke warmth and intimacy."
Scent: "I chose a fragrance for the space that felt warm and enveloping, with notes that carried a sense of roundness and comfort."
Taste: "For the drink, I paired a full-bodied red wine, served at room temperature in round glasses, echoing the theme of fullness and harmony."