Capturing the Beauty Between Light & Shadow in Italian Design

Name:
Paolo Abate
Photography:
Paolo Abate
Words:
Marissa Stempien

An in-depth Google search for photographer Paolo Abate would garner you very little results, but that’s how the artist prefers it. While admittedly a very private person, he makes no hesitation in turning his lens on the world around him, showcasing the beauty of Italian design through the mediums of structure and illumination. A dance between light and shadow, on a backdrop of architectural design, his photographs capture the beauty of any space with a well-placed beam of light.

But not just any smattering of light will do. Paolo uses his childhood memories as the window through which he views his work. “I was born in Napoli and for me, the memories of my family, summer holidays, the light of southern Italy at sunset, follow me in everything I do. In fact, my photographs are my personal interpretation of what I see and there must be precise conditions for me to want to take a photograph,” he explains. His interpretation of light can be quite literal, as his pictures capture columns of sunlight in darkened rooms, soft glows breaking through doorways at dusk, and bright rainbows of color shining through stainless windows. “I like to photograph architectural details such as lights, shadows, and I have an unbridled passion for arches and central perspectives,” he adds.

With such a specific interpretation of how light affects the world around him, it’s clear he’s been cultivating this viewpoint for years. “I've been taking pictures since I was a kid,” he explains. “I've always loved cameras, especially analog cameras, the magic of taking a photograph and not knowing immediately how it came about.” But when light is both the centerpiece and the elusive subject of your work, those years of experience show through in each stunning capture.

The past not only informs his passion but influences his work. “Architecture and art, in particular the Italian one of the twentieth century, together with my childhood memories, inspire me,” Paolo explains. “Reading also helps me a lot, ‘Atmospheres’ by Peter Zumthor for example, where he talks about topics that interest me a lot like the light on things, the consonance of materials, and the tension between inside and outside.” Literal interpretations of his inspiration are found most prevalently in his photographs of wide-open windows and doors, that act as a frame for the well-lit greenery that can be seen just beyond the walls.

His viewpoint is unique and works mesmerizing, but will we see anything beyond his self-contained corner of the internet? “I don’t have a site or anything else, you must know that I have always taken my photographs for myself. I started sharing them on Instagram because I was lucky enough to visit places that are not always open to the public and I was pleased to share the beauty with others,” he says. “I'm not a professional photographer, I just like to show how beautiful the world can be. My motto is ‘beauty will save the world.’ I really believe it.”