Florindo Rilli -Photographic Artist

Forindo Rilli's photography is characterized by a wide range of themes and techniques which are always inspired by the same "spirit of style."

 -From the magazine Suardi sonori, May 29 - June 6, 2004

Learning through practice, Rilli dedicated himself to the camera, and by age 28 he was on his way to a serious professional career.  Rilli emphasized that during this time, he continued to experiment with his style, using different techniques and finding new inspirations.

"My work is always a revolution to find my own sense of style. I never want to stay so specific," says Rilli. 

Neither did Rilli stay so restricted to one career.

"Please understand," Rilli said. "Photography is not a conventional job with a steady income.  I must really like what I do so I practice to make sure it is good."

            In order to live, Rilli became a jack-of-all-trades.  He spent several years as a disk jockey in local Italian discoteche or dance clubs.  In addition, Rilli currently works as an electrician, the job that gives him some financial stability and "lets him live."  Rilli remains dedicated to his camera because he says he does not take pictures for the money.

This is simply all part of his unique and appealing style.

He has the eye of the artist, that can see what others cannot, and the manual ability of the workman, that foreshadows and completes the work where others can't even imagine the finished product."

     -Officine Fotografiche (Photo Workshop, a cultural association in Rome )

After experimenting with several different genres, Rilli decided to concentrate on the human figure.  He tries to capture the body in spontaneous movement, allowing form and gravity to dictate the final composition. 

Rilli has been described within the art world as "an absolutely spontaneous photo amateur who takes pictures only for pleasure of doing it."

Because of this, Rilli's photographs include classical ballet dancers, theatrical performing artists, and modern movers.  With the flash of lights upon a set stage, one snap of Rilli's camera can capture up to six seconds of bodily movement, creating an image that is both fantastical and surreal. 

"Bodies in movement guarantee that you have a start for a good photograph," says Rilli.  "That inspires me to keep on shooting."

Rilli is famous for what he refers to as 'stolen images."  Sometimes he will sneak a camera into a theater, dance performance, or live show.  Not knowing the choreography of the show or the way in which performers will move, Rilli captures the spontaneity in physical art at its finest.

 With that in mind, Rilli said he feels the outcome of the photograph depends on the body and the background in which the body is placed.

Rilli regularly speaks with his subject before beginning a shoot to determine the best location. 

"My work involves two phases.  First, I take the shots, and then I get to see what they become. That surprise, the process of watching art materialize into a picture, is so very exciting."

Like the abandoned farm he chose to photograph Elena in, Rilli concentrates on locations with history, archeological substance, and abandoned property.  In one series of photographs, Rilli placed a professional dancer in an abandoned worksite where he and his subject were trespassing.  Rilli gave the dancer the opportunity to express herself, directing her only to step into light or out of shade.  He never takes more than one shot of the same movement or asks the subject to hold an impulsive pose. 

From this, Rilli produces a series of images that combine a person's body with raw material.  A long and lean female body in black leotard is spread against the billowing mound of white gravel.  Her twisted form jumps out against the patterns of tiny rocks that cascade in all directions. 

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