GA I A RAPHAEL MAZZUCCO
From the Greek word γαια (gaia). In Greek mythology, Gaia was the Mother Earth goddess.
Sometimes, all we need is for the world to slow down so that we can see, and appreciate, the beauty around us. Leaving behind his hectic life as a fashion photographer in NewYork to plant his family’s roots in rural Connecticut, USA, Raphael Mazzucco used the ear th as his canvas and let his fusion of nature, por traiture and photography grow. “Living on a small farm with animals and colourful birds like my peacocks brings a sense of grounding,” says Raphael. “I feel like I’m living a life from so long ago, so different from the city life I came from.” The wilderness surrounding his home and studio is cer tainly steeped in history: the state was considered the ‘hear tbeat’ of the American Revolution, and the Native American tribes who changed the landscape forever live on through the azure lakes and dense forests. This sense of spiritual kinship is weaved into each of the ar tworks from the Gaia collection.The flowers, tree bark and feathers that adorn these powerful female warriors are a snapshot of history, born from the families who tended to their farms and gave back to the ear th. His own travels across the continents – from the plains of Africa toVietnamese rice paddies – have yielded a bountiful harvest.The original archival prints are hand-embellished with natural elements from
around the world, connecting all of Mother Nature’s magic. Created in Raphael’s outdoor studio, they were exposed to the weather, developing like a photograph under the sun’s gaze. “Anywhere and everywhere can be an inspiration,” explains Raphael. “Beauty is where you want to find it. I’m fascinated by how these interactions come together and spontaneously blossom.” Rustic textures are juxtaposed by daubs of colourful paint and geometric forms neatly plotted out in string like the coordinates of a map.Viewers are invited to navigate their journey through the layers of classical imagery, nostalgic photography and occasional, unexpected, glimpse of modern life. As the second release from the Gaia series, which was unveiled at Castle Fine Ar t galleries in 2019 to critical acclaim, these works are bolder than their predecessors and are framed for the first time.The collection also includes two new limited edition prints, both of which are hand-finished with gold foil and printed on 100% cotton watercolour paper with a beautiful, unique texture. Suspended between past and present, these powerful creations are a contemplative exploration of the time missed between the shutter of a camera; they are a reminder to take a deep breath and just be human.
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