Ashley Gongora
Why You Need To See Photographer Mario Testino's Upcoming Exhibit At The Dallas Contemporary.
You guys, you guys, you guys: One of the most influential fashion icons in the world is going to be showcasing an exhibit in Dallas this September and you need to have it on your radar.
I'm talking about the one and only Mario Testino. You've seen the Peruvian photographer's work: He's shot all of the Who's Who celebrities out there and he's created some of the most inspiring advertisements for the highest-end fashion designers that exist.
Anyway: The U.S premiere of his new show Alta Moda — or High Fashion when you translate it to English — premiered last year in New York and now it's coming to the Dallas Contemporary, starting on Sunday, September 21, where it will run through Monday, December 22. Better yet, the exhibit will showcase a different side of Testino's original work — a more documentarian approach, if you will.
While on assignment for British Vogue, Testino found himself taken by the festival and traditional attires worn by the residents of the Peruvian town of Cusco. Inspired by the late Peruvian photographer Martin Chambi, Testino then worked closely with Chambi’s grandchildren to create a historical photographic backdrop wherein he could tell the story behind the traditional garb. A far cry from his more in-the-moment photographs, the images are meant to bring out the history in the dresses worn rather than the portraiture aspect.
That says a lot, too: Much of Testino's work is notable for the fact that he's so great at portraying his subjects' personality within his images. With this exhibition, it's the opposite, with the focus all centered around the clothing. The textures of the dresses stand out, in particular. So, too, do the colors, which evoke an almost overwhelming sensation.
This exhibition has received high recognition — and deservedly so — with prominent folks such as Oscar De La Renta and Queen Sofia of Spain attending the New York show's opening.
So the idea of Dallas being honored with Mario Testino's exhibition is just phenomenal. Any fashion follower worth his or her salt should be beyond stoked.
Mario Testino's Alta Moda runs Sunday, September 21, through Monday, December 22, at the Dallas Contemporary. Head here here for more information.
