Oliviero Toscani: The provocateur of photography has died!

Oliviero Toscani: The provocateur of photography has died!

Toskana, Italien - The Italian photographer Oliviero Toscani died at the age of 82. This announced his family on Monday and reported that he died after a serious illness that died. Toscani, who has become known primarily for his provocative advertising campaigns for the fashion brand Benetton, was recognized as the "Master of Photography and Free Sion". The President of Tuscany, in which Toscani lived, expressed that "his genius will continue to inspire us", as the Ansa news agency announced. Toscani was known for the fact that with his impressive pictures he put social issues such as AIDS, racism and the death penalty in the spotlight and often caused controversy, such as the campaign published in 1992, which shows a dying AIDS victim to draw attention to the then health crisis.

a life full of provocative art

in the 80s and 90s Toscani enjoyed an impressive career as an art director for Benetton and shaped the brand with its shocking and memorable motifs. His pictures included a wide range of controversial topics, including anorexia and mafia murders. The choice of his motifs, such as the representation of a blood-smeared newborn or from AIDS suffering, often led to violent discussions and resistance from activists who criticized the border crossing of his art. Despite the negative reactions, he remained true to his principles and pursued the vision that advertising should also be responsible for social awareness, as Toscani himself emphasized in an interview. Already in August he announced that he suffered from the incurable amyloidosis, which led to a drastic weight loss of 40 kilograms. His family asked for privacy in this difficult time, while Toscani started his “next trip”, according to his relatives in an emotional Instagram post.

like Barron’s reports Toscani as an outstanding figure in the world of photography, known for his ability to get out of the usual and to address considerable social issues. His heritage will continue while the world mourns its visionary art and messages.