Curator's Note

Portraiture is the hallmark of this young photographer, with his sharp, empathetic gaze, who knows how to capture the essence of his subjects. He complements his portfolio with harmonious, well-composed street scenes, rendered with surprising light. Black and white is his medium, which he uses to evoke sensations, dreamlike or minimalist atmospheres, highlighting expressions, light, and shadows that create a decidedly strong visual impact. It's inevitable to find parallels with the poetics of the films of Frank Capra, Fellini, and Billy Wilder, albeit tinged with more contemporary influences.

È cresciuto in un vivaio fertile, l’estro creativo di Giordano Rispo. Lui è figlio d’arte, ma non lo dice per timidezza, pudore, quasi che affermarlo potesse sminuire il suo valore quando si presenta a qualcuno. Si pensa sia tutto facile, per un ragazzo il cui padre è un attore affermato, invece spesso accade il contrario. Un genitore così fa ombra, e quell’ombra non sempre ripara, malgrado di certo abbia voluto farlo. Così, lui, crescendo, deve avere imparato a impegnarsi il doppio, schivare chi lo sottovaluta affidandosi ai luoghi comuni, a studiare, sperimentare, fare chiarezza nella confusione per scoprire una sua voce unica e originale, proprio influenzato da tutto quel talento che lo ha circondato fin da bambino.Giordano Rispo's creative talents grew up in a fertile breeding ground. He's the son of an artist, but he doesn't say so out of shyness or modesty, as if saying so would diminish his value when he introduces himself to someone. One might think everything is easy for a boy whose father is an accomplished actor, but often the opposite is true. A parent like that casts a shadow, and that shadow doesn't always heal, even though he certainly wanted to. So, as he grew up, he must have learned to work twice as hard, to avoid those who underestimate him by relying on clichés, to study, experiment, and clarify the confusion to discover his own unique and original voice, influenced precisely by all the talent that surrounded him since childhood.

He loves the faces of the world he encounters, framing familiar ones, freezing in a single shot moments that are affection, memory, and unbreakable bonds. He brings this capacity for interaction to casual relationships, too, when he wanders the streets of Naples, his hometown, or travels far away, returning with close-ups like those that make up this African portfolio. They recall the close-ups of Eric Lafforgue, Pieter Hugo, or Seydou Keita's 'Portraits of Bamako,' yet for him they are still experiments that, over time, will lead him to his uniqueness. I'm fairly certain that Giordano Rispo is not (and will not be) just a photographer. The fire and curiosity that pervade him push him to explore in various directions: communication, directing, acting, but photography is an expressive code that certainly suits him and that will guide him, transforming into something important, fundamental, for his journey.