Oliviero Toscani: Photography and Provocation

His images are arresting, disturbing, outrageous. As a photographer, creative director, and image editor, Oliviero Toscani made history and revolutionized commercial communications. He first came to the public’s notice through his iconic and controversial campaigns for the Italian fashion brand Benetton. After training at the Kunstgewerbeschule Zürich, Toscani went first to New York, where he plunged into “street photography” and became part of Andy Warhol’s legendary “Factory.” Back in Europe, he established himself as a commercial and fashion photographer whose trademark was visual provocation. This exhibition covering Toscani’s entire oeuvre promises to prompt discussion of both social conventions and topical issues such as gender, racism, ethics, and aesthetics.