NATURAMAHE'
Seychelles

This photographic project was inspired by the magic encounter in Seychelles on august 2014 with  the Master Gianpaolo Barbieri. (1935-2024)

He was a significant Italian fashion photographer renowned for his dramatic film noir lighting and theatrical compositions, often drawing inspiration from Italian cinema. Born in Milan into a family of textile wholesalers, his early exposure to fabrics and his interest in theatre heavily influenced his photographic style.

While primarily known for his fashion work with iconic designers like Armani and Valentino, Barbieri also developed a passion for travel photography in the later part of his career. This led him to various exotic locations, including the Seychelles.

His connection to the Seychelles is notable. He built his magnificent home there, which later became the site of the Mango House Seychelles, an LXR Hotels & Resorts property. This demonstrates a deep personal connection to the islands. Beyond simply residing there, Barbieri also captured the beauty and essence of the Seychelles in his photographs. His work from this period includes striking images of the local people, such as those featured in his 1984 book "Silent Portraits," which was uniquely accompanied by music from Vangelis inspired by Barbieri's photographs. He also photographed the islands' lush flora and fauna, as seen in works like "Orchidea n. 2, Seychelles (1984)" and "Trio, Seychelles (1998)."

Barbieri's time in the Seychelles appears to have been a significant and inspiring period in his life, allowing him to explore a different facet of his artistic vision beyond the fashion world. His photographs from the Seychelles offer a glimpse into the islands' natural beauty and the lives of its inhabitants, captured through his distinctive and artistic lens.