Artist Biography:
Pacifico Silano is a lens based artist whose work is an investigation into lost histories of the LGBTQ community and how it has shaped contemporary gay identity. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he received his BFA in Photography from Pennsylvania College of Art & Design and his MFA in Photography, Video & related media from the School of Visual Arts. His work has been exhibited internationally, including group shows at the Bronx Museum; Context, Miami; Oude Kerk, Amsterdam; and ClampArt, New York City. His first solo exhibition, “Against Nature” opened at ClampArt in January of 2015. Awards won by Silano include the 2012 Individual Photographer’s Fellowship from the Aaron Siskind Foundation; Finalist for the Aperture Foundation Portfolio Prize and First Prize at the Pride Photo Awards in Amsterdam.
Statement:
Against Nature, is a body of work that investigates the subjugated history of gay men living in Nazi Germany during World War II. Taking its name from “Paragraph 175,” part of the old German Criminal Code that criminalized acts of homosexulaity, this project explores the complex relationship between sexuality, authority and brutality. Using the colors red, black and white, the same color combination used for Nazi propaganda, this project creates new meaning in found photographs, juxtaposed with obscured portraits and still lifes.
Artist Website: pacificosilano.com