Gabriele Basilico

Born in Milan, Italy, he studied architecture in his hometown. His photography career will always reflect an interest for architecture, cities, urban landscapes (and the human impact on natural landscapes), and the city of Milan. In 1982 he published "Ritratti di fabbriche" (Factory portraits), a reportage on the industrial areas of Milan. Later in the 1980's, Basilico was one of the photographers commissioned by the French Government to document the transformation of French landscape. Focusing on the Atlantic coast of France and on seaside landscapes, he will later publish the collections "Porti di mare" (Seaports), and "Bord de mer" (Sea Edge) in 1990. He will also focus on the industrial landscape in and around the textile areas of Biella, Piedmont, on cities large and small, such as Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Valencia, Bergamo, Rome, and, most notably, upon the devastations caused by the war in Beirut, Lebanon (1992-1994).The anthology, "L'esperienza dei luoghi" (The experience of places), appears in 1997, and "Interrupted City" dates from 1999. He also focuses on ancient and new architectural projects, and on the oeuvre of select architects, such as Renzo Piano, Luigi Caccia Dominioni, and Munio Weintraub (fater of the film maker, Amos Gitai). The anthology, "Gabriele Basilico: Fotografie 1978-2002" appears in 2002. In 2007, he publishes "Silicon Valley," after a commission from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA). His last public work was showcased in December 2012, for the inauguration of a new square in Milan, named after architect Gae Aulenti. He was awarded the Osella d'Oro at the 1996 Venice Biennale.