 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
RENOWNED INTERNATIONAL
PHOTOGRAPHER MARCELO
KRASILCIC
PHOTOGRAPHER MARCELO
KRASILCIC
Marcelo, Marcelo, Marcelo. I have been a fan of this Brazilian/US photographer's work for some time. How wondrous it would be if
he would give SSS an interview. A bit of a far-fetched dream, but perhaps? Marcelo responded to my trans-atlantic request with
the words, "sure, let's exchange words and knowledge." Fabulous, a triumphant fabulous! Having taken phenomenal photos of
Hollywood elite including Chloe Sevigny, Joaquin Phoenix and Willem Dafoe, Marcelo has firmly planted himself in the midst of
popular cult status. For not only is he photographing and mingling with our current day icons, but he himself has a intrinsic role in
how they are documented, conveyed and remembered for the rest of history. The role of the photographer is instrumental in
manifesting the voyeurs appreciations or condemnations of a figure. Their role has stemmed from the historic tradition of
painting portraits and often requires as much stamina, creativity, thought and talent as that of a painter.
Through our fascinating and convenient medium of the internet, the exchange between SSS and Mr Krasilcic begins...
Where are you right now and what time is it?
New York, at home, 2:24am.
What is in your diary for today?
I will spend the night awake finishing up projects, and then take a plane to the Canary Islands with a stop-over in London.
What CD are you currently listening to?
Kelly Key’s biggest hits.
What are you currently reading?
Fantastic man, Newsweek, Economist, In Touch, Vanity Fair and Tantric Self-Healing I and II.
Who gave you your first camera?
My parents.
Can you remember the first photos you took?
I remember the first I remember. They were photos of clothes hanging on an old iron and glass gate in the trees. The clothes were
positioned as if there were people moving while wearing them. I was 12.
How did you become involved in fashion/celebrity/music photography?
I became involved with the kind of work I do when I realized the communication potential of mass media. Also, I like photographing
people and people like my photographs of people.
Which has been your most memorable shoot?
Too many memorable to name just one. Recently I shot Robinho who is a young soccer star in Brazil. It is still in my memory.
Which location would you like to do a shoot in?
I have realistic expectations when it comes to shoot locations. In saying that, I have shot in some of the most spectacular places on
earth: like Bora-Bora, New York, Sao Paulo, Rio, Stromboli, Parati, Delfinopolis, Morocco, Cuba, Jericoacoara, Paris, London, Berlin,
Adirondacks, Majorca, India, Trancoso, Salvador, Los Angeles and Barcelona. These have included, hotels, mansions, humble
houses and apartments, condos, swimming pools, cheap druggie hotels, amusement parks, paradisiacal beaches, sex hotels, riads,
hammam, saunas, studios with river views, rivers, boats, cars, forests, dunes. It is good to know that there are so many more places
to go.
If you could pick 3 people to use in a shoot at the same time, who would they be?
I don’t use people. The people I photograph are subjects who together with the crew are collaborators.
You work with so many celebrities but have you ever been nervous at meeting one? If so, who?
I get excited, not nervous.
When you were growing up, which public figures did you admire?
When I was a teenager I thought Bowie was hot.
I've read an interview you did for Index magazine. Have you done any other interviews recently? Who would you like to interview?
I have interviewed Tommy de Luca and created a questionnaire for Jake’s (Scissor Sisters) ex-boyfriends. Both for Butt magazine. I
also created a fictional interview for Asfour. I asked and answered the questions myself. I am also planning on interviewing interns to
work with me.
Who was the last person to take a photograph of you?
Myself.
You co-directed Guaruja a Wonderful Movie with Gisela Domschke. Was it hard to make the transition of photographer to
filmmaker? Would you do it again?
I believe we are always in transition and there is nowhere else to go but now and here. It is as hard as one wants to make it. In my
case it hasn’t been hard. Experimenting with a different language has been very pleasurable and I have learned a lot. And yes, there is
more coming.
You are also involved with music videos. Who have you worked with in this regard and who else would you like to work with?
I directed videos for Arto Lindsay, Susan Cianciolo, Party of Helicopters, VPL, Spastor and personal conceptual videos. I am open to
future projects.
Most photographers/artists have a muse. Who is yours?
My inspiration comes from many people, things and spatial arrangements. From the Chinese doing Tai Chi at the park across from
where I live to the trees surrounding the same park.
If your house was burning and you could only save one of your photos, which would it be?
It happened. I went for my cats, passport and equipment (in this order). Didn’t think of photos.
I've heard that you're a yoga fanatic. Do you do this more for health or spiritual reasons?
The physical aspect of my yoga practice has assumed a free-style. I practice whenever I do. The understanding of non-duality that I
have learned through yoga, I try to incorporate in my daily affairs.
When you've attained the level of success and credibility that you have, how do you cope with the pressure and expectations
attached to your work?
I always do the best I can.
What is your survival kit on a shoot?
A camera with a charged battery and a memory card.
You are making history not only by photographing prolific figures of 21st century pop culture but also by the way you portray them.
What is your thought-process behind this? Do you think about how you will portray each individual in advance?
I have a direction planned in advance. That can be an emotion, a light experiment, a narrative or an aesthetic circumstance. When the
shoot is happening it always has a life of its own.
Will we be seeing a Marcelo exhibition anytime soon?
Yes, I will email you the information.
What have you got planned for the rest of 2005?
Besides many shoots, Gisela and I are planning to show the movie in New York, Sao Paulo, London and Paris.
As we are a new art magazine, do you have any words of advice for us/our approach?
Limitations exist to be infinitely expanded and I wish you all the best.
Questions by Dee Sekar and photograph by Marcelo Krasilcic.
Special thanks to Marcelo Krasilcic.
For more info: http://www.marcelok.com/
he would give SSS an interview. A bit of a far-fetched dream, but perhaps? Marcelo responded to my trans-atlantic request with
the words, "sure, let's exchange words and knowledge." Fabulous, a triumphant fabulous! Having taken phenomenal photos of
Hollywood elite including Chloe Sevigny, Joaquin Phoenix and Willem Dafoe, Marcelo has firmly planted himself in the midst of
popular cult status. For not only is he photographing and mingling with our current day icons, but he himself has a intrinsic role in
how they are documented, conveyed and remembered for the rest of history. The role of the photographer is instrumental in
manifesting the voyeurs appreciations or condemnations of a figure. Their role has stemmed from the historic tradition of
painting portraits and often requires as much stamina, creativity, thought and talent as that of a painter.
Through our fascinating and convenient medium of the internet, the exchange between SSS and Mr Krasilcic begins...
Where are you right now and what time is it?
New York, at home, 2:24am.
What is in your diary for today?
I will spend the night awake finishing up projects, and then take a plane to the Canary Islands with a stop-over in London.
What CD are you currently listening to?
Kelly Key’s biggest hits.
What are you currently reading?
Fantastic man, Newsweek, Economist, In Touch, Vanity Fair and Tantric Self-Healing I and II.
Who gave you your first camera?
My parents.
Can you remember the first photos you took?
I remember the first I remember. They were photos of clothes hanging on an old iron and glass gate in the trees. The clothes were
positioned as if there were people moving while wearing them. I was 12.
How did you become involved in fashion/celebrity/music photography?
I became involved with the kind of work I do when I realized the communication potential of mass media. Also, I like photographing
people and people like my photographs of people.
Which has been your most memorable shoot?
Too many memorable to name just one. Recently I shot Robinho who is a young soccer star in Brazil. It is still in my memory.
Which location would you like to do a shoot in?
I have realistic expectations when it comes to shoot locations. In saying that, I have shot in some of the most spectacular places on
earth: like Bora-Bora, New York, Sao Paulo, Rio, Stromboli, Parati, Delfinopolis, Morocco, Cuba, Jericoacoara, Paris, London, Berlin,
Adirondacks, Majorca, India, Trancoso, Salvador, Los Angeles and Barcelona. These have included, hotels, mansions, humble
houses and apartments, condos, swimming pools, cheap druggie hotels, amusement parks, paradisiacal beaches, sex hotels, riads,
hammam, saunas, studios with river views, rivers, boats, cars, forests, dunes. It is good to know that there are so many more places
to go.
If you could pick 3 people to use in a shoot at the same time, who would they be?
I don’t use people. The people I photograph are subjects who together with the crew are collaborators.
You work with so many celebrities but have you ever been nervous at meeting one? If so, who?
I get excited, not nervous.
When you were growing up, which public figures did you admire?
When I was a teenager I thought Bowie was hot.
I've read an interview you did for Index magazine. Have you done any other interviews recently? Who would you like to interview?
I have interviewed Tommy de Luca and created a questionnaire for Jake’s (Scissor Sisters) ex-boyfriends. Both for Butt magazine. I
also created a fictional interview for Asfour. I asked and answered the questions myself. I am also planning on interviewing interns to
work with me.
Who was the last person to take a photograph of you?
Myself.
You co-directed Guaruja a Wonderful Movie with Gisela Domschke. Was it hard to make the transition of photographer to
filmmaker? Would you do it again?
I believe we are always in transition and there is nowhere else to go but now and here. It is as hard as one wants to make it. In my
case it hasn’t been hard. Experimenting with a different language has been very pleasurable and I have learned a lot. And yes, there is
more coming.
You are also involved with music videos. Who have you worked with in this regard and who else would you like to work with?
I directed videos for Arto Lindsay, Susan Cianciolo, Party of Helicopters, VPL, Spastor and personal conceptual videos. I am open to
future projects.
Most photographers/artists have a muse. Who is yours?
My inspiration comes from many people, things and spatial arrangements. From the Chinese doing Tai Chi at the park across from
where I live to the trees surrounding the same park.
If your house was burning and you could only save one of your photos, which would it be?
It happened. I went for my cats, passport and equipment (in this order). Didn’t think of photos.
I've heard that you're a yoga fanatic. Do you do this more for health or spiritual reasons?
The physical aspect of my yoga practice has assumed a free-style. I practice whenever I do. The understanding of non-duality that I
have learned through yoga, I try to incorporate in my daily affairs.
When you've attained the level of success and credibility that you have, how do you cope with the pressure and expectations
attached to your work?
I always do the best I can.
What is your survival kit on a shoot?
A camera with a charged battery and a memory card.
You are making history not only by photographing prolific figures of 21st century pop culture but also by the way you portray them.
What is your thought-process behind this? Do you think about how you will portray each individual in advance?
I have a direction planned in advance. That can be an emotion, a light experiment, a narrative or an aesthetic circumstance. When the
shoot is happening it always has a life of its own.
Will we be seeing a Marcelo exhibition anytime soon?
Yes, I will email you the information.
What have you got planned for the rest of 2005?
Besides many shoots, Gisela and I are planning to show the movie in New York, Sao Paulo, London and Paris.
As we are a new art magazine, do you have any words of advice for us/our approach?
Limitations exist to be infinitely expanded and I wish you all the best.
Questions by Dee Sekar and photograph by Marcelo Krasilcic.
Special thanks to Marcelo Krasilcic.
For more info: http://www.marcelok.com/
| All images, words, site design Copyright © Soma Soma Scene 2005 unless otherwise stated All Rights Reserved |
Copyright © Marcelo Krasilcic 2005