FADDY Magazine - Issue 35 April 2022

ISSUE 35 APR 2022

CRISTINA OTERO Exclusive Interview

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Welcome on board Hello everyone I’d like to give a very warm and special mention to Luca Veronesi our new Contributing Editor for a beautiful job on this issue and his continuous commitment to Faddy Magazine and all of the creative community who made this issue great.

Thank you Luca.

I would also like to thank our writer Gaby Smith for her wonderful work interviewing our cover story.

Editor and Chief Biagio De Giovanni

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uca Veronesi is a Professional Cinema&Fashion photographer, Photoshop Postproducer, Photo-web journalist based in Ferrara, Italy.

He works for fashion Brands across Milan, Rome, Bologna and oc-

copywriter. The London College of Fashion alumna has written widely about fashion and culture, with her work

published in numerous magazines such as; Harper’s Bazaar UK,

casionally abroad, Paris and London usually.

House of Solo Magazine, French Fries Magazine, Overdue Mag-

Thanks to Brad&k S.r.l. SMM Film Agency, since 2005 he has

azine etc.

worked for Disney, Warner Bros. and Universal Studios.

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abrielle Smith is a freelance journalist and creative

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FOLLOW, CONTACTS Instagram: faddymagazine Facebook Page: faddymag Email: info@faddymag.com, faddymagazine@gmail.com Web Page: http://faddymag.com EDITOR IN CHIEF Biagio De Giovanni CONTRIBUTING EDITOR & SVP SALES AND ADVERTISING Candice Valentine Solomon FADDY SHOWCASE REVIEW CHIEF Alessandra Galati JOURNALIST/WRITER Linda Arroz Gabrielle Smith GRAPHIC DESIGN CONSULTING Massimo Storari GRAPHIC Giulio Cesare Silvestri & Biagio De Giovanni FADDY MAGAZINE HEADQUARTERS FERRARA - 44124 - Via Giglioli 28/A

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table of contents

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Fille Matérialiste Kareem Quow

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Pale Fire

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Cristina Otero

Jeff Mikkelson

There is Beauty everywhere Josh Byer

Xylella

Luca Bolognese - Faddy Reportages

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Exclusive interview

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Chiaro Scuro

Filomena Barberio - Irene Scioti

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Fashion my Passion Karl M.Lee

Arianna

Biagio De Giovanni 7

Cristina Otero

Petra

EXCLUSIVE I N T E RV I E W C R I S T I N A O T E RO I N T E RV I E W B Y G A B Y S M I T H

It is a pleasure to sit down and speak with visual artist

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

and fine art photographer, Cristina Otero. The Madrid based, self-taught photographer has an intriguing way

Inspiration comes from anywhere and anything. It may

with self-portraiture and is known for transforming

come from a conversation I had with a friend the other

herself into the most compelling characters. Talented

day, or something I’ve seen, read or experienced. I al-

both in front of and behind the lens, Cristina’s imagery

ways carry a small notebook to write words, phrases or

is dramatic and often slightly haunting. Since becom-

thoughts that could spark a future idea.

ing the youngest Spanish artist to exhibit individually in a gallery, Cristina Otero has received many acco-

Based in Madrid, does your Spanish heritage influ-

lades with her work showcased worldwide. Renowned

ence your work?

for her captivating presence and visual eccentricities, Cristina has given new meaning to the term selfie. Her

This could be possible, but I started photography in the

striking self-portraits ignite the imagination through a

Internet era and my first references were artists from

balance of fashion-influenced styles, makeup artistry,

other parts of the world, such as Zhang Jingna and Lara

and technical use of colour and Photoshop manipu-

Jade. My work and probably its concepts indeed fit into

lations.

the Western culture (we cannot detach ourselves from our roots), but current globalism makes cultural bar-

You started photography at the tender age of 13,

riers increasingly thin, and this, of course, also affects

what initially sparked your interest in photography

art.

and the arts?

What has been your favourite camera to shoot As a child, I always remember drawing, painting and

with and why? Vintage or modern?

writing poetry. Art has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. I was very interested in portraiture, so

The camera I’ve been using for several years is the

my drawings were often of female faces. When I dis-

Pentax K1, a tough, full-frame camera that I take every-

covered that photography could be used as an artistic

where I go. I’ve also been experimenting with mobile

tool, I began to experiment and quickly discovered that

cameras for a couple of years, and I’m quite impressed

the camera and the dynamics of a shoot were what

with how fast such technology is improving.

excited me.

As a creative, you must have tried various techDoes being self-taught allow for more freedom and

niques and skills when perfecting your art. Are you

experimentation?

still learning/discovering new ways of shooting and creating?

I believe being self-taught gives you greater satisfaction when you discover something on your own. It also

Of course! I believe you never stop learning when you

enhances important qualities such as dedication and

have a passion for what you do. No matter how much

the overcoming of obstacles. You are in turn, not being

you know, there will always be something new to dis-

“contaminated” theoretically by others and do not have

cover and experience, if you are willing to keep an

prejudices or fears when experimenting. You have the

open mind.

freedom to explore without being judged by others or even by yourself.

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Advena

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Afterparty

Candice

EXCLUSIVE I N T E RV I E W C R I S T I N A O T E RO

Renowned for your self-portraits, most notably

Has your vision/style transformed or evolved?

your whimsical Tutti Frutti series in 2012. What intrigues you most about self-portraits?

It has indeed evolved over the years, it’s the natural process. I’m not the same person from 10 years ago;

I consider that the concept of self-portraiture goes be-

I have matured, and I’ve had new experiences. This

yond the visual obviousness and the idea of mimetic

means that my photography style has changed since I

reality as its absolute condition. Beyond the physical

believe an author’s creations are the reflection of his/

representation, self-portraits can serve to channel sit-

her current circumstances. In the beginning, I worked

uations, experiences or emotions that are shaking the

much more impulsively and unconsciously, and this, of

mental state of the author, a way of acceptance, as-

course, was caused by my age; a teenager looking for

similation or palliation of them. Therefore, it is also a

her place in the world. Right now I’m a much calmer

way to face, find and understand oneself. That is why

woman with other concerns, dreams and desires, and

I make self-portraits, for me, it’s a cathartic method, a

those present circumstances are moulding my way of

means to purge physical and mental states that could

representing and creating.

be disturbing me.

What is your favourite collection or series to date?

Juggling being in front of and behind the lens, you are known for transforming into the most compel-

Right now, I am working on a new project that has me

ling characters. How do you execute such a range

pretty excited and motivated. Among my published

of emotions and concepts in your images?

works, I would say that I truly enjoy the Tutti Frutti series, it is quite cheerful and bright, in addition to the

The concepts and emotions behind my work originate

fact that it brings me back good memories of when I

from my own experiences and feelings. When creating,

created it.

I need to be honest with myself. In my work, sincerity must prevail over aesthetics, theory and practice,

Is there a particular photographer or creative that

therefore, everything I have created so far has been

you look up to?

born from a personal imperative need for it to exist.

I truly enjoy and respect the work of Ouka Leele and How long does it take you to plan a shoot or series?

Isabel Muñoz, as well as Erwin Olaf’s vision, Eugenio Re-

Where do you begin?

cuenco’s way of shaping colour and lighting, and Gina Pane’s Body Art. My references also come from paint-

It all depends on the concept’s needs. Sometimes the

ings, such as Fragonard, the Pre-Raphaelite Brother-

conceptualisation takes me months, even years until

hood and Egon Schiele.

its raison d’être becomes clear and exciting to me. This is the longest process, and once it is complete, the

In addition to speaking at photography conven-

shooting could only take as little as an hour, or even

tions, you hold many accolades, such as the win-

less. If it’s a complex concept (like one where I need to

ner of the 2021 One Eyeland Awards, Spain’s Top

be in a certain frame of mind), I wait until I feel it’s the

10 Mobile Photographers, the honourable men-

right day to shoot.

tion winner of the 2021 International Photography Awards (Fine Art – Portrait) and the Best of Vogue,

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Mandarina

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EXCLUSIVE I N T E RV I E W C R I S T I N A O T E RO

2014 Vogue Italia, “façade” to name a few. What

wanted in life and appreciate what matters; family and

advice would you give to young creatives and bud-

health. Especially mental health, since it’s something

ding photographers?

that affected me on a personal level. About creativity, I feel that I’m experiencing a new stage in my career,

To me, the most important advice I can give is, to be

I’m working on new themes and experimenting with a

honest with yourself. We all have a wonderful inner

somewhat different aesthetic than usual. I’m truly ex-

world from which we can draw an enormous amount

cited about this new path I’m going through.

of creativity. When I speak of sincerity, I mean to be yourself; getting to know yourself on a very personal

Your work gives new meaning to the term selfie.

level and embodying it in your work, without feeling like

Can you offer any self-portrait tips?

you have to follow a specific aesthetic path because “it’s the norm” and what seems to work. Personally, what I

Self-portraiture is all about practice. It may seem hard

appreciate the most are when the artist’s personality

at first, but it takes time until you feel com comforta-

is reflected in his/her work, his/her way of seeing the

ble with working all by yourself. You have to see the

world, and I believe that this is achieved through hon-

self-portrait process as a moment of having a conver-

esty.

sation with yourself, alone, where there is no one there to judge you. It is rather a moment to reflect. So, if it’s

Your work has been showcased in art fairs and

hard for you at first, don’t worry, give yourself time and

exhibitions across the world, including in Brazil,

you’ll get to know which is the best lighting for your

Germany, the UK, the USA, Italy etc. Have you vis-

face, how to pose, as well as how to convey feelings.

ited all of the countries where your work has been

Also, if you don’t like the result, that’s fine! Do what

exhibited? If so, what has been your favourite and

feels right for yourself and yourself.

why?

Last but not least, we would love to hear what else Not all of them, I’ve still haven’t visited the United States

you are working on? Are there any exciting new

(hope to do it soon!). I don’t have a favourite place; on

projects you have coming up?

all of my trips, I’ve met wonderful people that made my stay mesmerising and with whom I keep in touch

As I’ve said before, I’m experimenting with new con-

nowadays. This is one of the many things that make me

cepts and colour schemes. I have a big project going

passionate about my work, getting to know new places,

on, but it’ll take me a while to complete it since it’s quite

cultures and people. I am truly grateful for this.

complicated. I’m working on techniques that go beyond photography, so I’m discovering new ways to create. I

The recent and unprecedented pandemic proved a confusing and difficult time for many. All creative industries were put on pause. How did this affect your creativity?

It has been 2 difficult years, anything related to Culture and Arts has gone (and still is) through some rough times. For me, it was a time to reflect on what I 16

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hope to be able to make it public as soon as possible!

Uva

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Pitahaya

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Limon

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Ageless

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Left PaintiGalatea’s Dream

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Lithium

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Soul Censures

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Nina’s limbo

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Rookies

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Rookies

Nostalgia

Pathological Liar

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Steam Kisses

Saint

The harvest

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The outcast

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The prisoner

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The wanderer

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Whisky dreams

MArc Le Bihan Fas h ion Desig ner

Marc Le Bihan is a fashion designer, artist, and craftsman who creates clothes like a second skin. His work goes beyond any classification.

In a transitional era, where everything looks unstable and meaningless, his persistent artisanal contribution makes the difference.

Every single garment begins with an idea and the desire to make it happen.

Designs are realized in a spectrum of near whites and saturated tones of black, realized through traditional dye methods including dip dying and shibori dye techniques. The graphic colors and tonalities within the collection represent Le Bihan’s polar inspirations of “alpha and omega, swaddling cloth and shroud”.

Le Bihan’s background is in textiles, once working at the prestigious tapestry factory, Manufacture des Gobelins in Paris, whose ancient history dates back to Louise XIV. It was while working as a weaver that Le Bihan developed his taste for hand made craftsmanship, so evident in his collection today.

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His conceptual creativity – manifested through impeccable tailoring, is the expression of a cultured and timeless approach to fashion that refuses trends and their transience.

Completely disconnected from commercial fashion constraints, his couture is a rare example of consistency.

F I L O M E N A B A R B E R I O

I R E N E S C I O T I

C H I A R O

S C U R O

Art-direction & styling Filomena Barberio https://www.filomenabarberio.com/ Photography Irene Scioti https://www.irenescioti.com/ Talent Chiara Bimbatti https://www.iconicmanagement.com/ women/772-chiara-bimbatti/ Hair stylist Ernesto Montenovo https://ernestomontenovo.co.uk/ Make up Elaine Lo https://www.elainemua.com/

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Necklace by Jean François Mimilla @jeanfrancoismimilla

Karl M.Lee Photo gr a p her

My Name is Karl M.Lee, many of my friends just call me, Lee. This because of my years spent in the Army, and as you know everyone is called by their last name, and since no Nickname ever stick with me, my last name has stood the test of time.

Enough with that boring stuff, let’s get to the good stuff, Many have wondered where my eye for fashion, and passion for Photography comes from well, I’ll tell you, like this it didn’t happen on purpose, But a good friend and what I would find out later to be my 1st cousin Marcus Jones, took a older boy , older than himself and schooled, me on how to dress daper, and how to make something from nothing, meaning a little of no money, into something of value, and style. Being from Louisiana home of Gumbo and the best seafood in the world. we learn to put it together, Everyday he would train me, how to press my clothes, how to match colors, how to trust in what you wearing and believe in yourself, and most of all what attract women to you as a man, and it’s called style, using clothing

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dye we would take General Dollar Store, pants

grow in many ways always encouraging follow my

and shirts completing a outfit for 10.00 into high

heart and creativity, in my work, I thank him for that

fashion for the skate Rink nights, these lessons as

always, and I think many of my supporters today

a young boy, he taught me, blossom in many areas

who believe in my work whether business or friends

of my life, but fashion has always come easy for me,

are on lookers, I think of them all because they are

putting things together, as a grown man I always

witnessing God everyday in my talent for this thing

love capturing myself and style, taking images with

called Photography and Art.

some sort of camera, and this made me go through about 5, always putting off buying a real high quaility camera and lens, and being afraid to learn something new and afraid of change, but I was never completely happy with the quaility of images I was taking, so never once I thought of really learning anything in photography because it was just a hobby to me, but after 5 camera’s and money wasted, My best friend Marco, ask me to help him take his Son Pictures, and I went out and invested in 850.00 Canon camera, now his son project is complete and I’m broke, so i told my roomate someone has to pay for this camera somehow, and before long we were working in a club taking photos earning money, and growing my skill level at this time I started learning on Utube, their I discovered Lindsay Alder a famous fashion Photographer, and Immediately I fell in love with her work and develop my own style from there, these days I still study and grow and with every image, I see a chance to make a difference in some one life and vision of my work.

I always wanted to get my work in magazines and my good friend Llody Crawford, of I-Fashion Magazine open that door and have helped me 51

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Fa shion my Pa ssion

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Photographer Karl M. Lee @karl_fashion_photographer Model Amari Deity @amarideity Fashion Designer Sabitha Fashion Designer @sabithaofficial Wardrobe Stylist Makeup Artist Hair Stylist Malka Cohen @sol_beauty_makeup

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I am a human being; I was born in Brooklyn New York, USA and I currently reside in Atlanta, Georgia.

Like a lot of us I do and am many varying things; one of my tools for doing is photography. I use the art of photography to communicate messages, stories, ideals, humor, to entertain, to distract from, to focus on, as an artistic expression.

I believe what makes each photographer unique is their “eye” or vision...basically an aggregate of what makes anyone unique. The special mixing and developing of all the dynamics that make you think the way you think and see the way you see. For me it’s’ my aesthetic. Which is based on my love for creative storytelling, films, music, poetry, my personal interest and technical background in art and architecture, my outlook on the world curated through travel and life experiences. It’s the attention to detail, the ability to be inspired by almost anything and have that inspiration grow into an entirely new entity. All these things have and will continue to influence my personal style/ vision and shape how I approach each project.

I get a great deal of satisfaction creating conceptual photography. The main reason is intention. Many masterpieces have been created by accident, but to be able to consistently have an idea or vision realized with intention is a very fulfilling feeling. To know that the result has been achieved by a balanced combination of inspiration, creativity, personal style/vision, concept development, planning, technical acumen, execution and post production is very comforting. I’ve used everything I know and am to create. So I am completely invested in each project I undertake...and this is what I bring to the table.

Kareem Quow

Photographer Kareem Quow @kqphotography Model Skylar Deckert by K Starr Management @skylardeckert Makeup Artist Keya Delarge @keya.mua Hair Stylist Wardrobe Stylist Jeremey Johnson @iamjeremey Fashion Designer Jkansepts @j3kansepts Assistant Christi Hector @Christi Hector

Fille Matérialiste

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Jeff is an award-winning beauty and fashion photographer and director based in New York, with editorial and advertising clients worldwide.

Born and raised in the heartland of the United States, Jeff came to photography by a road of many twists and turns. On the way, he earned two degrees in philosophy, learned two skilled trades, traveled a good bit of the world and plied himself to a variety of strange occupations, including one glorious summer as an octopus fisherman in Greece. He currently divides his time between his studio in Manhattan and his home in the Hudson Valley.

Photographer Jeff Mikkelson @jeffmikkelson https://www.jeffmikkelson.com/ Makeup Artist Hair Stylist Sylvia Dimaki for MAC @sylviadimaki Model Jessica Whitlow by New York Models @jesswithlow

Pale Fire

Photographer Biagio De Giovanni @degiovab Model Arianna Panieri @ariannapanieri Makeup Artist Hair Stylist Elisabetta Merra @elisabetta_merra Retoucher Zoia Gerasimova @retouch_gerasimova Assistant Giulio Silvestri @giuliocesaresilvestri_ph

Arianna

FADDY Reportages

Xylella

by LUCA BOLOGNESE

X

ylella is a bacterium that lives and reproduces

the plant, thus preventing the arrival of a pathogen.

within the lymph conducting apparatus, caus-

like Xylella.

ing serious damage to crops and often be-

One of the solutions proposed to eradicate Xylella is

coming lethal. Its vector is an insect called Spittoon. Its

the eradication of diseased trees, a massacre, consid-

appearance in Italian agriculture dates back to around

ering the more than 65 million olive trees in Puglia.

2010, hitting and destroying hundreds of hectares of

Another alternative solution was to make the plant

the plots of ancient Salento olive groves.

and the unwanted host coexist in the best way using

In 2015 a state of calamity was declared and a very

organic-based treatments or microbiotic consortia

painful containment plan was approved: eradicating

which, in addition to revitalizing the soils, restore the

the affected plants to avoid new infections. Over the

natural balance between good and bad microorgan-

span of eight years, the epidemic has expanded and,

isms, associating good agricultural practices through

despite the application of eradication measures, in

gentle and regular plowing, frequent pruning, removal

2020 about 6 million olive trees showed symptoms of

of weeds. In October 2018, to avoid further culling of

total or partial desiccation, on an area of 350 thousand

plants, 200,000 new “Favolosa” olive seedlings began

hectares. When a plant is infected, the bacteria lead to

to be distributed, which seem to be resistant to the

the formation of a gel, obstructing the flow of water

Xylella bacterium.

through the lymphatic vessels and thus blocking nutrition. The desiccation of the olive trees is the result of a land abused for decades, mistreated with pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, which has led to the impoverishment of the microbial community in the soil or in 88

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Luca Bolognese http://www.lucabolognese.com instagram: https://instagram.com/lucabolognese_ph

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Trees before Xylella

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Trees with Xylella

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Trees recovering after Xylella

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Wood to burn

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My name is Josh Byer and I’m an artist who lives and works in Vancouver, BC. My style is called Faux Fauvism. Recognized by the Saatchi Gallery, MoMA San Francisco and ArtFinder, Faux Fauvism is a modern art movement founded in the study of pattern recognition.

Artwork attempts to create a “cloudgazing” effect by exploring elements of visual cognition.

I have been painting non-stop since my mother’s passing in 2009. All of my work is dedicated to her memory. Appearing in hundreds of publications, Faux Fauvist artworks have been featured seven times on the front page of Reddit. Over 800 Faux Fauvist paintings are completed to date -- exhibiting internationally alongside the work of Matisse, Picasso, Dali, and The Group of Seven.

Fine Artist Josh Byer @vancityjoshb

There is beauty everywhere

Howling at the Moon, mixed media on cold press paper, 2022

Behind the Creek, mixed media on cold press paper, 2022

Returning Home, mixed media on cold press paper, 2022

Texting in the Suburbs, mixed media on cold press paper, 2022

Passing a Note, mixed media on cold press paper, 2022

The Sun Rising Over the City, mixed media on cold press paper, 2022

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