Guido Mocafico

Guido Mocafico is a specialist in still life photography. Drawing from highly symbolical elements of decay in Western culture such as flowers, snakes or spiders, Mocafico’s images blur the line between still life paintings and photographic immortalisations of pulsating jeopardy. In the tradition of the allegorical art of Vanitas, Mocafico confronts desire and death, eros and thanatos always accompanied by an undertone of superficiality and lure. 

<span class="title">Bothriechis Schlegeli<span class="title_comma">, </span></span><span class="year">2003</span>
<span class="title">Morelia Viridis<span class="title_comma">, </span></span><span class="year">2003</span>
<span class="title">Rhynchophis Boulengeri<span class="title_comma">, </span></span><span class="year">2003</span>
<span class="title">Thamnophis Sirtalis Tetrataenia<span class="title_comma">, </span></span><span class="year">2003</span>
Guido Mocafico
Bothriechis Schlegeli, 2003
Pigment print mounted to aluminium
Image: 47 1/4 x 60 5/8 in. (120 x 154 cm.) | Framed: 48 2/5 x 61 2/5 in. (122.5 x 155.5 cm)
Artist’s proof 2 of 2, unique in this format, aside from the standard edition of 4
© Guido Mocafico

Part of Guido Mocafico’s trilogy Venenum, alongside Aranea and Medusa, Mocafico’s Serpens series consists of images of a vast collection of snakes, including vipers and cobras. On photographing the snakes, Mocafico said “I have always been terrified by these reptiles, but I also find them terribly fascinating. I felt a sort of repulsion-attraction for these living creatures.”

 

Despite igniting a sense of fear for many, Mocafico depicts these serpents up close, elevating them to protagonist stature. As a master of technique, Mocafico’s use of lighting and arrangement work together with the subject matter to transform these serpents into objects of great beauty. “If I had to define beauty, I’d say it has to contain an element of darkness or danger.” Guido Mocafico.