From May 19 to July 30, 2023
FotoNostrum Mediterranean House of Photography
C/ de la Diputació, 48, 08015 Barcelona
www.fotonostrum.com
Above: Rosalía by Paolo Roversi in the 2020 Pirelli Calendar. © Paolo Roversi, 2019.
The first Pirelli Calendar exhibition in Barcelona opens at FotoNostrum at Calle de la Diputació 48 , near Plaza España. The exhibition, titled L’Eterna Bellezza, is the largest retrospective of the Pirelli Calendar ever held and is organized by FotoNostrum, courtesy of Pirelli. Curated by the Italian photographer Amedeo Turello, curator of the Pirelli Collection since 2015, the exhibition will display 450 photos and will be attended by the photographer of the 2023 edition of the Calendar, the Australian Emma Summerton, at its opening.
The exhibition will display works by the 41 photographers who have made the Pirelli Calendar a legend in the world of photographic art, including Peter Lindbergh, Annie Leibovitz, Helmut Newton, Herb Ritts, Paolo Roversi, Sarah Moon, Mario Testino, Steve McCurry, Helmut Newton, Bruce Weber, Patrick Demarchelier, Richard Avedon, and Albert Watson.
In this way, FotoNostrum, directed by Julio Hirsch-Hardy, aims to contribute to making Barcelona a benchmark in the dissemination and exhibition of photographic art. The public will have the opportunity to see how these great masters have portrayed women over the years, including models such as Gisele Bündchen, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Gigi Hadid, Kate Moss, Natalia Vodianova; actresses like Monica Bellucci, Sofia Loren, Laetitia Casta, Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Whoopi Goldberg, Nicole Kidman, Nastassja Kinski, Charlotte Rampling, Uma Thurman, Kate Winslet, Robin Wright, and singers like Cher, Rosalía and Patti Smith.
The Pirelli calendar
Over the past 50 years, the Pirelli Calendar has left a significant mark on society, playing an important role in representing women in the world of fashion and photography. Known for its iconic and sensual images, the Pirelli Calendar has evolved to reflect social and cultural changes in the perception of femininity and women’s empowerment.
The Pirelli Calendar was first launched in 1964 and has become a symbol of beauty, style and elegance. Over the past 50 years, the Pirelli Calendar has highlighted the importance of breaking stereotypes and celebrating the diversity of female beauty. She has moved away from objectification and tried to portray women as strong, talented and multi-talented individuals. The calendar has collaborated with renowned photographers and artists who have captured the essence of successful women in various fields, including music, film, fashion, sports and activism.
These images have challenged traditional beauty canons and sparked debates about the representation of women in the media. The Pirelli Calendar has played an important role in the body acceptance movement and has contributed to redefining beauty in terms of individuality and authenticity.
In addition, the Pirelli Calendar has highlighted the role of women as creators and protagonists in the world of fashion and photography. It has provided a platform for female photographers and models to express their artistic vision and talent. It has been a key driver in making the fashion industry more inclusive and equitable, recognizing the value and creativity of women in all aspects of production and visual representation.
In short, the Pirelli Calendar has been more than just a calendar for the last 50 years. It has functioned as a catalyst for change, challenging established norms and promoting a more inclusive and empowered vision of women in society. Its importance lies in its ability to influence visual culture and contribute to the evolution of the perception of women, celebrating their diversity, strength and talent.
The images in the Pirelli Calendar not only show the poetics of individual authors, but also a sample of society, aesthetics and the arts between the 20th and 21st centuries. It includes both the specifically photographic and artistic aspects, that is, the evolution of the photographic language over time through some of the main exponents of the discipline, as well as aspects related to fashion and pop culture, changes in taste and society as a whole.
About the curator, Amedeo M. Turello
Amedeo M. Turello is a versatile professional born in Cuneo in 1964. He graduated in Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Turin and later emigrated to work mainly abroad.
Turello has a recognizable style in all his professional activities, from architecture to design, from marketing to publishing, from curating to photography. He has also worked as an artistic director on prestigious editorial projects. Since 1999 he has been dedicated to photography, an activity that arises from his natural love for the visual arts and his interest in sociology, art and design.
In addition, he has been collecting and marketing modern and contemporary art for over 30 years, as well as fine art photography since the year 2000. The Turello collection is a rare and remarkable archive of approximately 500 original images from the female photographic universe, each corresponding to his multifaceted concept of beauty.
Since 2015, Turello has been the curator of the Pirelli Calendar. Since “The Cal” exhibition, curated with Walter Guadagnini at the Palazzo Reale in Milan, he has been involved in many other Pirelli Calendar-related consultancy projects, curating initiatives and international exhibitions in Europe, the United States and South America, including activities of consulting for new digital opportunities.
He currently lives in the Principality of Monaco and works between the French Riviera, Milan, New York and Los Angeles.
About FotoNostrum
FotoNostrum is a photography center dedicated to the dissemination, exhibition and promotion of the work of great references in photography, as well as emerging photographers. Its mission is to broaden the understanding and appreciation of photography and its role in the evolution of contemporary culture by stimulating dialogue among photographers.
Founded and directed by Julio Hirsch-Hardy, FotoNostrum was created by The Worldwide Photography Gala Awards (WPGA) of the United Kingdom, which since 2009, has selected and exhibited thousands of artists, helping them advance their careers, as well as promoting the photo value. In 2019, FotoNostrum decided to establish Barcelona as its headquarters, but since its founding, WPGA has organized exhibitions in cities such as Madrid, Buenos Aires, Malaga and Berlin. FotoNostrum also works as a commercial gallery of photographic work, exhibiting and promoting authors from all over the world, both established and emerging.
Due to the pandemic, it was not until 2022 when FotoNostrum started its activities in Barcelona. In that year, he presented three temporary exhibitions: ‘Around the World in 80 Images’ by Steve McCurry, followed by the exhibition ‘Private Property’ by the German photographer who revolutionized fashion photography, Helmut Newton, which was carried out in collaboration with the Berlin Museum of Photography, and later the ‘Avedon Behind Images’ exhibition, a visual study of the style of work of the renowned Richard Avedon, created by his former studio head and master printer Gideon Lewin, including original works in vintage prints by Richard Avedon. These three photographers were exhibiting for the first time in Barcelona. 2023 began with a show by fashion photographer Joan Alsina, and another by French photographer Robert Doisneau, in a collection selected by the French photographer’s daughter. Now continue with the retrospective of the Pirelli Calendar.
FotoNostrum publishes the FotoNostrum Magazine monthly ( https://fotonostrummag .com ) and annually organizes two major international photography awards: the Julia Margaret Cameron Award for women photographers and the Pollux Award, whose selected works are exhibited in group shows in its space of 1000 m2.
About Pirelli
Founded in 1872, Pirelli has built an unimpeachable reputation as a supplier of high-performance tires, known for their exceptional quality and commitment to road safety. The company has pioneered the development of advanced technologies that have revolutionized the tire industry, from next-generation compounds to innovative tread designs that offer exceptional grip and optimal performance in all conditions.
Pirelli’s involvement in cultural activities includes, in addition to the Calendar, the Pirelli HangarBicocca contemporary art space and the Fondazione Pirelli company museum. The visionary nature of the art fits well with Pirelli’s commitment to innovation and community engagement.
Pirelli continues to push the boundaries of technology and creativity, bringing Italian excellence to the roads and into the hearts of car and fashion lovers around the world.
Ticket prices:
General admission: 11.50
Retired and unemployed: 6.50
Students (with ID): 6.50
Youth from 13 to 17 years old: 5.50
Children under 13 (accompanied by an adult) Free
Disabled: 6.50