Antoine d’Agata, born on November 19, 1961 in Marseille, France, diverged from his studies at the age of 17 to immerse himself in the world of the night. For 12 years, he traversed more than 20 countries, capturing moments through his lens. In 1991, with no prior photographic background, he took the leap to enroll at the International Center of Photography in New York, learning from the likes of Nan Goldin and Larry Clark. After a brief hiatus, he returned to France in 1993 and put his photographic practice on hold, working as a bricklayer.
His first book, Mala Noche, was published in 1998, followed by receiving the prestigious Niépce Prize in 2001. Reflecting his extensive travels, his series 1001 Nuits was exhibited in Paris in 2003 and accompanied by the release of two books, Vortex and Insomnia. In 2004, D’Agata joined the renowned Magnum Photos agency, which also marked the publication of his fifth book, Stigma, and his directorial debut with the short film El Cielo del muerto. The following year, he went on to shoot his second film, Aka Ana, in Tokyo. More recently, his four-hour film White Noise (2019) featured the voices of 24 women. In 2013, he was honored with the Photographic Book Prize at the Rencontres d’Arles for Anticorps, a collection of his work that coincided with a major exhibition at Le Bal in Paris.
Antoine d’Agata’s artistry delves into the realm of contemporary violence, exploring two main themes: the violence stemming from economic and political factors (migration, refugees, poverty, war) and the violence faced by marginalized social groups due to poverty (survival through crime, drug addiction, excessive sexuality). His latest projects include VIRUS (2020), documenting the Covid-19 pandemic, and Antoine d’Agata – Francis Bacon (2020), a fusion of his works with those of the renowned artist.
With a photographing career spanning over 30 years and 50 published works, Antoine d’Agata’s compelling artistry has garnered international recognition. His solo exhibitions have graced numerous museums, and his works have also been included in public collections. As a full member of Magnum Photos since 2008, D’Agata’s work continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
www.ftn-books.com has the Fotomuseum invitation card now available.
