INTERVIEW MAGAZINE PHOTO MAGAZINE BRAZIL
Contemplative Photography of Guillermo De Angelis
Design, architecture and a dose of philosophy form the photographic universe of Guillermo De Angelis, from Rosario, Argentina. It was during his residence in Madrid that photography “began to manifest almost with urgency” to De Angelis. “Like a way to treasure bits and pieces” he claims. Two of his series – Haikus and Ausencia (Absence) – offer all the contemplation that is present in his language as a photographer.“First of all, photography was a need, a reflex, an urge”, says De Angelis. “Later on, through time and above all through distance, it turned into a way of expression.” Nowadays, De Angelis resides in Rosario and lives exclusively off of photography after making forays into design, architecture and philosophy, which helped much in the building of his work. “Each and every course I took, from being curious rather than hardworking, left its noticeable utility: design got colors, composition and fine arts closer to me; architecture brought me context, space, abstraction; and with philosophy came how to combine all the previous.”
In his website there is a clear thought about the feeling of De Angelis’ photography: “Among the many ways of fighting nothingness, one of the best is to take photographs.” words of Julio Cortázar. The Argentinian photographer exhibits his image series, most of them with emphasis on black and white. The photographer comments on the black and white duality: “Once, a famous guitar player was asked why he always wore a black shirt for his concerts, he answered that if he wore a colorful shirt, it would attract more attention than his music. Depending on what I try to show, I use one resource or the other. But I believe that, unknowingly, I prefer black and white.”
Another feature that marks the images of his series, is the baptism of each of them with names that are suggestive to those who truly behold them. “I can’t get into those one-way streets of images or words. I am neither sure about one image being worth a thousand words, nor vice versa. Putting aside any exceptions, when I see an image a ball of words fly in my head and when I read, likewise, a lot of images. Neither I manage to dissociate them nor I sense it could be enriching. Like someone said: it is interesting to consider if words aren´t fundamental for thinking”, De Angelis exercises his author´s philosophy. He also highlights the fact that his images can lead to reflection: “If, to some people, my photographs work like any kind of detonator of reflection or interpretation beyond mere aesthetical liking, that is good news.”De Angelis acknowledges that his inspiration is specially centered in painting and literature. In the sphere of photography he quotes Elliot Erwitt or the young Alexander Gronsky. Names that are not close to his language, he is much more referenced in painting and literature. To sum up, De Angelis comments each of the two series that are shown. He leaves a message about the work as a whole: “Each of these projects were developed under the same guideline, I accept a weakness towards details. I’d prefer the gesture than the signal, the whisper than a shout, the warm than the hot. The insinuation."
