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Anthony Russell
A Kenyan Artist
BIOS
A collection of visually stunning pieces shot recently
by celebrated artist Mazzucco in the Shompole
conservancy and the Maasai Mara in Kenya. Done in
Collaboration with renowned Kenyan conservationist,
artist, designer and musician, Anthony Russell. A raw,
highly kinetic and visually arresting narrative capturing
the very essence of Maasai tribal life.
Produced by: Alicia Zarou Scanlon (aliciazs@mac.com) & Yen Reis (yen@galleryreis.com)
ANTHONY RUSSELL, born and raised in Kenya and raised in the UK, is an
artist, designer, musician, and most of all, mad-keen conservationist with a passion for lions and Maasai culture.
The son of a famed Kenyan hunter and safari
operator, Anthony has drawn upon a lifetime of experience in the East African
wilderness, a deep knowledge of tribal culture and a rebellious and artistic spirit to create some of Africa’s most
desirable and eco-friendly luxury safari camps and lodges, including Che Shale at the Coast and Galdessa in the
Tsavo Game Reserve. In addition, he has worked with Richard Leakey, Ian Douglas Hamilton, the
Honourable Member of Parliament George Saitoti, Paul Allen and Donna Karen on community design orientation projects and pure wildlife protection projects.
Anthony has had the support of his endeavours from Calvin Klein and Stephano
Gabbana to Ronnie Wood &David Bailey, and foundations such as the Ford
Foundation, the UN and the European Union biodiversity programs.
RAPHAEL MAZZUCCO, a native of Vancouver is one of the most influential
fashion photographers; an artist who’s seductive style has not only become
iconic with clients such as Victoria’s secret, Guess Jeans, L’Oreal, Ralph Lauren and Bergdorf Goodman, but who
has major publications that include French &
Italian Vogue, L’Uomo Vogue, Marie Claire, L’Officel, Playboy, Vanity and many more.
He is currently partnering with music mogul Jimmy Iovine of Interscope
Records to shoot an anthology of celebrity portraiture. The collection of
photographs-some wildly provocative, some tongue in cheek-will be presented as a photo essay entitled “Culo by
Mazzucco”; capturing a sensual moment in the lives of some of the most interesting and alluring women on the
planet.
Raphael’s arrival onto the art scene with a vision that merges his love of the photograph with the sensuality of
painting has been met with critical acclaim. His work is starting in its honesty; images and pieces that in the
same moment can inspire a deep pathos and spark new heights of exhilaration. His inspiration is drawn from
the beauty of our ever-changing world and his ability to express himself from a profoundly raw perspective will
continue not only to leave his imprimatur on our culture as a whole; but will ensure his legacy as one of the most
eminent image-makers of our time.
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Wild Ambition: Raphael Mazzucoo’s Africa Collection
Renowned photographer Raphael Mazzucco recently debuted his latest work in Singapore; a collection which
depicts scenes of Africa to magnificent effect.
By Annabelle Teo
24th March 10:30
I am a bit of a nature boy says Raphael Mazzucco. Beside him, Antony Russell comes in,”He’s an honorary Kenyan, or “Shompolean”, as we say,”leaning forward on the couch in the al fresco area of Mimo kitchen and Bar. It
is a sunny afternoon when Asia Tatler meets with the dynamic duo in this tucked away location surrounded by
the greenery-most apt given the topic at hand.
Anthony Russell and Raphael Mazzucco
“The is a great place, the whole feel of the horses and the grounds, the architecture-it’s really like a bit of Nairobi,”
muses Russell. Born and raised in Kenya, he is an artist, designer; musician and above all, a conservationist who
creates special retreats in Africa that merge the aspects of conservation, commerce and community. The result is
luxury destinations that merge with their environments such as the aforementioned Shompolean lodge, which is
a community project with the Maasai people. ”We protect lions there-we started with six and now we have about
70” he tells us with pride.
The project is at the heart of the very reason that Russell and Mazzucco are in Singapore on this afternoon-to
debut their new Africa collection, comprised of 39 pieces that the pair worked on for two years. The full collection has never been shown anywhere else before, and its debut in Singapore can be attributed to the friendship
between Mazzucco and Alicia Zarou Scanlon. She sparked the idea of bringing his art to Singapore, a country
she has lived in for the past 15 years.
Even if you aren’t familiar with Mazzucco by name, chances are you have seen the work of this acclaimed photographer and artist on many occasions. He has shot for Sports illustrated several times, as well as for the advertising campaigns of Victoria’s secret, Guess Jeans and Ralph Lauren, all of which evoke the same sense of gritty
sensuality that seems to emanate from the man himself. With his ripped jeans, just-out-of bed hair and disarming insouciance, Mazzucco could pass off as a rock star.
While he continues to do commercial photography, it’s apparent that he gravitates towards creating works of the
art. “I’ve been working with this medium now for the last eight years, and I’ve done many shows in Florence,
Milan,New York and L.A. I am obsessed with collage and layers and it can go on forever.” Says
Mazzucco.
With a base of stunning photographs shot in the Shompolean Conservancy and the Maasai Mara in Kenya, the
pieces of the Africa collection are sealed in with layer upon layer of resin.
With just a mere sweeping view of the collection, the graphic nature of the images immediately arouses your
senses. Then,upon closer look ,one is rewarded with a treasure trove of details-embedded in the resin are anything from insects to beads and traditional tribal jewellery,and most bearing the handwriting of the artists. One
truly feels the spirit of Africa through these works, the result of unbridled creativity and fortuitous processes.
“That’s the most exciting part-starting and not knowing,” notes Mazzucco. “That’s a big reason why we love to
work with the resin. We’ll put the photograph down and apply the resin and build the layers, but we completely
have no idea (where it’s going to go), and that’s the joy of it. The way we work together is very organic and spontaneous. It’s never forced. We just had fun, enjoyed Africa and made the best out of being there.”
Part of the proceeds from the sale of this collection will go to the Asali Community Trust, which aims to provide
funding for important social development projects in rural communities in Africa. Through this exhibition, Russell hopes to spread a positive message, “I really hope people will look at this collection in the light of conservation and community, and remind them that there are places that need help. And through these people, we can
develop other areas like (Shompolean) in Africa and keep the land free for lions.”
Contact:
anthonyrussellafrica@gmail.com
www.anthonyrussellafrica.com