Artist Profile: Michel Valentino

German photographer Michel Valentino is presenting us this excellent collection of a bit dark and twisted, but still very moving and expressive photos. The most important thing at this work is creativity and here's what he himself says about it: "Creativity is the basis of self-expression. Why are some people supposedly more creative than others, and why can't others open themselves up enough to be able to express who they are?

Creation is the birth of something, and something cannot come from nothing. When someone creates something: a painting, a poem, a photograph, the creativity comes from an idea, from a feeling, from emotion, or from a combination of ideas, feelings and emotions that are somehow 'reborn' from all our experiences and perspectives. Creativity is the desire to express ourselves. To formulate these expressions, we have to draw from our reservoir of experience, dreams, desires and experimentation and mix together what was, what is, and what could be... I don't think you can learn it, it is rather something that evolves. Your perception of everything in your life fills up this reservoir.

Some people are drawn to create and express themselves, others are drawn to reflect, to analyze. But in the end, they all could be creative if they had the desire to explore the way in which they are integrated in the world of their experiences. Because creativity is really a rebirth, a true tone we feel for ourselves and for our world. Then our work becomes a real part of who we are. Maybe all this is a question of how deep we are willing to go..."

Exhibit: Wasteland Children of the Evolution
At: kunst.kraft.werk Vockerode, Germany
From: August 1st to September 29th, 2008

To some, Michel Valentino's work can be seen as controversial. his latest exhibition is a series of photographs that depict people wearing gas masks. His work has been exhibited around the world as he lives between Prague, Berlin and New York. Valentino uses various mediums such as photography, sculpture, video installation and performance art to create his art.

The central theme in his works is the telematic society he deals with the key components of a society driven and controlled by politics, war, entertainment, fashion and computer technologies.