It takes courage to place human ignorance on prints
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
In my book, there are two great artists known to provoke human kind. Kenneth Cole and Oliviero Toscani. The one I do want to focus right now is Toscani because I am sure everyone has heard of his new campaign and amazing photos of a woman who suffers from anorexia. She bears not a thread of cloth on her body revealing and showcasing her body after years of the disease in hope to help those who are in the process of indulging in such outrageous and disgusting weight loss package.
I have had the opportunity to have met the man in his early years of provocative images back in France. My parents (I swear) know anyone who is somebody in this world. I was about 14 years old when the Benetton Campaign Black and White hit the major front windows of the colorful branding of Benetton on the streets of Paris. Although he began in the early 80’s, his work still remain a showcase among advertising agencies who dare bait the public with Toscani’s delicate watered down colored images of human issues.
Like Kenneth Cole (Pro Gay Marriage) , Toscani emerges from the studios with brilliant ways to “teach” or should I dare say “engrave” Issues into our brains. One of my favorite ad is a full page vibrant image of a black lady breastfeeding a white infant. The magnificent part of the image is the shot he gave us - black torso clashing with the white infant.
The “Breastfeeding” ad set out to develop a sense of common humanity that transcends skin color. I remember reading about some critics who were concerned that the Breastfeeding ad brought fourth the abuse where slaves were forced to breastfeed the children of white owners.
And of course, regardless of the criticism the ad won awards in France.
Like K. Cole, Toscani’s oeuvres continues to penetrate the soul of each and everyone of us. It doesn’t matter if you hate his work or you love it - you still can point out a Toscani ad from a million.
That is a true artist - one who makes us wonder. Again, It takes courage to place human ignorance on prints.
I love it.