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azt is a gay, HIV+, italian artist. Born in 1974, he lives and works in Bologna.
His interest for photography made him first develop the most narrative aspects of the medium. He frequently used his own naked body as an instrument for identity search and emotive expression together with urban landscapes and details.
From 2007 he dedicates almost exclusively to portray naked men with the many male nudes series. His research starts with the statement of difference as human inestimable value and explores the most personal and erotic aspects of his subjects. Through their physical nudity, he unveils a male universe that strongly differs from rules and stereotypes imposed by fashion and mass culture. Bypassing cultural superstructures, he displays an image of personalized, intimate and strongly politicized masculinity.
He produced many artist books and published his works in contemporary art magazines and catalogs.
He exhibited in museums, private galleries and non-profit spaces in Europe and United States.
His works are included in important European and international art collections.
The project "TANGIBILE" (that means "tangible") is an attempt to make something completely different from my previous works.
It mixes two different ways I used photography before: to represent myself and to portray other men. In these pictures there's always me plus one (or more!) other man. You can see them as "self-portraits with..." pictures.
It's all about body, the interaction between bodies, gestures and actions, shapes and forms that join and melt. It's about the relationship that men can or want to have with my body, knowing I am HIV positive and seeing my body completely naked as it is. Sometimes it goes to erotic, sometimes not.
There are no rules in the process of making, apart from being together, in contact. It's something more "performative" than "photographic" and you can actually see the pictures as a sort of "documentation".
There isn't any will of idealising the body, there isn't any "correction" in the editing. Bodies and what they do, are, become together.
Selected group exhibitions:
2015 - STILL - Das Stilleben in der zeitgenössischen Photographie, curated by Peter Weiermair, Laa an der Thaya (AUT), Langenzersdorf-Museum, (AUT), MuseumORTH (AUT), Galerie foto-forum, Bozen (IT).
2014 - Postcards From The Edge: A Benefit for Visual AIDS, Luhring Augustine, New York, NY.
2012 - DIARIES, curated by Peter Weiermair, The Leslie-Lohman Museum, New York, NY.
2011 - In the End was the Word, curated by P. Weiermair, Ursula Blickle Stift., Kraichtal-Unteröwisheim (D).
2011 - Ossessione Verde, curated by Peter Weiermair, Galleria De Faveri, Sovramonte (BL).
2011 - Ultimo Quarto, curated by Matteo Bergamini, FAC, Milano.
2011 - ombrapenombrabuio, curated by Matteo Bergamini, Studio ART 74, Bologna.
2010 - Ustioni, curated by Matteo Bergamini, Private Flat, Firenze.
2010 - Lettera e testamento, curated by Matteo Bergamini, FAC, Milano.
2010 - Next-door monsters, curated by Francesco Paolo Del Re, Laboratori Sotterranei, Roma.
2009 - Altrove, curated by Francesco Paolo Del Re and Antonio David Fiore, Rialtosantambrogio, Roma.
2008 - Quali corpi quale carne, curated by Francesco P. Del Re and A. D. Fiore, Rialtosantambrogio, Roma.
Selected solo exhibitions:
2009 - Language is a lie, curated by Francesco P. Del Re and Antonio David Fiore, Circolo Mario Mieli, Roma.
Selected publications:
2014 - Hunter O'Hanian, Self Portraits by Others, NY.
2013 - The naked and the nude, curated by Peter Weiermair, Grafiche dell'Artiere, Bologna.
2012 - azt, male nudes, curated by Peter Weiermair, All Saints Press, Innsbruck.
2008 - Treasures of Gay Art, curated by P. Weiermair, All Saints Press, Innsbruck.