Photography has the capacity to tell us a lot about this world. Alberto Venzago (*1950 in Zürich) is considered one of the best photographers of our time, and for over fifty years he has been dedicated to bringing this world closer to us through his photographs. In fact, much of his work takes us to places and people that normally lay beyond our reach - be it the Japanese mafia Yakuza or Mick Jagger up close on stage. Therein lies their undeniable fascination and visual impact. Venzago hails from an era in which the idea of photography was that of a credible and concerned testimony.

And that is precisely what makes them so rare today. Nowadays, it is almost impossible to photograph so intimately, freely and attentively, with such patience, curiosity, perseverance and care. The materiality and process of photography has changed fundamentally in recent years. So has the speed with which images are now distributed directly from the camera, and thus the value that is attached to them. Today's photos are computed in the camera. As a result, we now consume rather than just view the world through images and our image-making routines. The truthfulness of any intended image narrative is compromised by the machine's calculations and the algorithms of social media.

In contrast, Alberto Venzago's works reveal a well-honed and uncompromising craftsmanship. Perfection is more than a technological aspect here; it is the best translation of what happened in front of the camera into a photographic work. There is a sense that this photographer places a special value on the moment, the people and the places depicted. Each photo is a time capsule. You can sense the close physical proximity between the photographer and those portrayed. This conveys a certain sense of authenticity. Time and place are still clear coordinates that anchor his pictures in the world and, by extension, Venzago himself. We do not doubt the photographer's expressed interest in Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Tina Turner.

The Moos Fine Art Gallery is delighted to be able to present an exclusive selection of Alberto Venzago's works and together with the photographer delve into the world they reveal.

At the opening reception of the exhibition on March 1, 2024 at Galerie MOOS, Alberto Venzago will speak about his beginnings and his long journey across concert stages and theaters of war, through orchestra trenches, artists' studios and back rooms, the rainforest of Malaysia and the urban jungles of New York and Tokyo.