POLAROIDS AND MORE
From May 10th to July 27th 2019, 29 ARTS IN PROGRESS gallery in Milan (Via San Vittore 13) presents the exhibition “Polaroids and more” by the renowned fashion photographer Gian Paolo Barbieri, recipient of the 2018 Lucie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Fashion.
Curated by Giovanni Pelloso, this special exhibition offers an in-depth journey into Barbieri’s long-standing exploration of instant photography. Bringing together more than 120 previously unseen Polaroids taken over the last thirty years, the show reveals a more intimate and immediate dimension of his creative process, distinct from his carefully constructed fashion imagery.
A first series of portraits and figure studies opens a window onto the world of fashion and its protagonists, unfolding as a behind-the-scenes narrative that reflects Barbieri’s cinematic vision. For him, fashion photography is not merely documentation, but performance and theatre—an orchestrated scene that must remain close to reality while transforming it into beauty, metaphor, and imagination.
At the centre of this visual universe stands the female figure: often portrayed with playful irony and subtle ambiguity, she becomes neither object nor myth, but a presence suspended between reality and enigma. In Barbieri’s vision, women embody a constantly evolving essence—mysterious, powerful, and deliberately elusive. His images transform the photographic surface into a seductive space, inviting viewers into a world of fantasy, emotion, and discovery.
Alongside fashion-related studies, the exhibition also includes works dedicated to indigenous communities in their natural environments, as well as nudes conceived as preparatory studies and floral compositions—subjects that reflect the artist’s enduring curiosity and sensitivity.
Long before the digital era, Barbieri was already using the Polaroid camera as a tool for capturing immediate impressions of life, later integrated into his broader artistic language. These images range from delicate and intimate moments of vulnerability to striking expressions of immediacy and strength. Unlike his highly staged editorial work, these photographs are defined by spontaneity and experimentation, offering a rare insight into his creative thinking.
The exhibition also presents a preview of new works inspired by William Shakespeare, a project developed over several years in dialogue with the idea of timeless storytelling. As the artist states: “As I’ve always liked to do, drawing on the past and looking to the future.”
“Polaroids and more” offers a rare opportunity to enter this creative universe from a more personal and experimental perspective, revealing the depth and spontaneity behind one of the most influential photographers of contemporary fashion.
INFORMATION
May 10th – July 27th, 2019
Tuesday – Saturday: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday and other days: by appointment only
29 ARTS IN PROGRESS gallery Via San Vittore 13, 20123 Milan, Italy