May-June 2012

ART
unique idea and gradually it developes into
being an entrepreneur. The first project
included 97 artists from Spain.The first
exhibition was held in 1997 in Barcelona which
won the art critics award for”Best Gallery
Exhibition”that year. The photographer takes
portraits of artists, gives them a black and white
copy as canvas and the artists create their self
portraits. The presentation and medium of the
self portraits depend on how the artists want to
express themselves. The original portraits taken
by the photographer and the self portraits made
by the artists are always displayed together.
Antonio launched Vol I of …portrait to self
portrait..in 2011 with the diptychs of artists he
worked with in Eurpe.
The project was introduced to the Nepali art
enthusiasts with the help of The Elsa Peretti
Foundation and Kathmandu Contemporary
Arts Centre (KCAC).Celia Washington who
is the founder director at KCAC initiated the
idea of bringing the project to Nepal.”I like
interacting with the people , so I am here.
I don’t choose people they choose me”, the
Spanish photoghrapher replies when asked
how the project started .He further continues
“People select me and I just go with the flow”.
Antonio has photographed over 300 Nepali
artists during his 6 weeks stay at Nepal.”time
and numbers don’t exist for me .Its the
moment in the project that really matters”he
comments on how the artists were selected.
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May - June 2012