reviews_and_ramblings | Mariano Vivanco: Uomini di Dolce & Gabbana

A collaboration between Mariano Vivanco and D&G has already produced one of the most erotic calendar I have ever seen with a stunning (and naked) David Gandy: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/523209.html

Now they are again paired together for an entire book and a whole lot of more models among whom: Andre Ziehe (also on front and back cover), Buck Palmer, Tony Ward, Andres Velencoso Segura, Sam Way, Rodrigo Calazans, Noah Mills, David Gandy, Brian Shimansky, Clint Mauro, Sam Saffman, Miguel Iglesias, Julienne Quevenne, Eduardo Oliver, Chris Garavaglia, Chris Folz, Aj Abualrub, Antonio Navas, Alan Carey, Oliver Chesire, Christopher Landon, Tom Warren, Luis Kelling, Ryan Bertroche and Chad White.

Antonio Navas

Mariano Vivanco is a fashion photographer whose rich cultural heritage informs his unique aesthetic.

Originally from Lima, Peru, he now divides his time between London and New York, regularly shooting for internationally renowned magazines such as, Dazed & Confused, Vogue Nippon, Vogue Homme Nippon, Numero, Another Magazine, Man About Town, Allure, Details, GQ Italy, L'Uomo Vogue, 10 and 10 Man.

Vivanco has also published four books for the Dolce & Gabbana label: Calcio (2003), which was the first book of its kind to capture the emergence of the soccer superstar, Milan (2004), Nationale (2006) and Milan Family. In 2006, he was also asked to shoot the French rugby team for the Dieux Du Stade Calendar for 2007.

In 2007, Vivanco held his debut solo exhibition at the Print Space Gallery in east London, supported by Dazed and Confused. Here, he exhibited two innovative editorial stories produced for Dazed entitled Cult and Artist. His second exhibition followed quickly, this time in Milan's Gold Restaurant. Here, he exhibited his images of
the model David Gandy for Dolce and Gabbana's 2008 calendar, which fused the classical ideal of Michelangelo's David with modern ideals of masculinity.

In 2008, he published Ninety Five Chapel Market. A retrospective look at his first years in London, documenting the likes of Sienna Miller, David Gandy and Lily Cole to name a few, at the start of their careers.

Vivanco has worked with the likes of Eva Mendes, Dita von Teese, Cillian Murphy, Rupert Friend, Naomi Campbell, Eva Herzigova and Sir Paul Smith.

http://www.marianovivanco.com/biography/

Andre Ziehe

Dolce & Gabbana: Uomini by Mariano Vivanco
Hardcover: 252 pages
Publisher: Rizzoli (March 8, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0847837009
ISBN-13: 978-0847837007
Amazon: Dolce & Gabbana: Uomini

Uomini - D&G, Masculinity and Sensuality. The images of the book, published by Rizzoli, are inspired by masculine archetypes, modern Adonis reminiscing of Greek and Roman traditions: the hero, the soldier and the sportsman.

The volume, released as a complement to all publications printed as corollary to Dolce&Gabbana Men's 20th anniversary, decipts the male body in yet another perspective: as a model worth of inspiration, a beauty which transcends times, trends and cultures.

Looking at the images shot by Mariano Vicanco, both in black and white and in colour, what is noticeable is not just an array of well-known faces from all international catwalks, but a snapshot of Mankind. Their perfect bodies and their tensed muscles, sculpted by training and discipline, are almost reminiscent of an anatomy manual, and yet they are not losing one ounce of sensuousness and grace.

Tony Ward

Tony Ward

The last section of the book is dedicated to Tony Ward. Icon of the 80's and 90's, Tony's charm is almost primitive. He shows himself to and plays with the camera without filters. The result is a series of images which are drenched in sensuality and eroticism, thanks to the eloquence of a face and a body whose charm stands, unadulterated, the test of time.