How to synthesize thirty years of photography in a photography book?
I have tried to do it with a 222 pages volume entitled "Multitudes" (only available in Italian language at now), combining similar or complementary (for shapes, colors or geometry) pictures, adding some brief thoughts or suggestions, and divided it into seven chapters: "The spirituality of mankind", "Beyond the clouds", "The enchantment of the forest", "Echoes of the Beyond", "Altitudes", "The Prayer of the Earth", "Sunsets and sunrises".
“Am I contradicting myself?
Well yes. I contradict myself.
I am vast, I contain multitudes”
(Walt Whitman)
I have tried to give light to shadows, looking for the invisible that lies beyond matter.
"Multitudes" ("Moltitudini" in Italian language) is a metaphor of our interiority, it is a symbol and memory of the parts that live inside our soul.
To shoot photographs means to dematerialize the concrete into the imaginary.
Photography crystallizes the scent of an invisible beyond, which resonates in the sensitivity of those who shoot and those who observe.
Here some other pages. From "The spirituality of mankind": the true face of God is the heart of mankind.
Holi festival in India:
From "Beyond the clouds":
"Echoes of the Beyond" is mostly in black&white, and contains some surreal and intimate images, touching deep cords of our interiority:
"Altitudes" and "The Prayer of the Earth" talk about mountains: how many times nature seems to be an open-air church, with peaks similar to tower bells, pointing to the Top:
"The enchantment of the forest" talks about trees, and the magic of these living creatures:
Finally, "Sunrise and sunset", many years waiting the perfect location and time, with an obsessive but satisfying wait:
I thank those who helped me, specially my friend Roberto Russo for the review which I'll report here:
"In the mixture of primordial elements, which dot our existence, Andrea Gabrieli is not just a photographer, but a discreet and mild organizer of universal emotions and feelings. In his research the artist devotes himself to continuous dialogue with the unimaginable wonder of being: he remains enveloped by it, sometimes entranced. The panic adhesion to reality is Gabrieli's stylistic feature, each shot has the effect of an almost instantaneous identification with the world and the humans groups, whom he met and frequented. We are lucky to enjoy countless glimpses of beauty and introspection."
Thanks also to Riccardo, Francesca and Alessandra.
Dimensions 20x30, hardback cover. On promotion at 50 euros (plus shipping cost) in December, 60 euro in 2025.
The book can be purchased directly from me, the bad/good news is that it is sold-out in only ten days after release (I have printed 100 copies), and I have only a word for people who bought it: THANKS!
I think I will reprinted some new copies soon, and it can be booked: write to me at andrea.gabrieli@gmail.com for a copy!
Printed by Micrograf - Mappano (TO) - Italy.
November 2024.
