Daniele Alberto Lombardi (L A D)

Daniele Alberto Lombardi (L A D) is a conceptual still life photographer who has exhibited in the United States, United Kingdom, and Italy. Recent exhibitions include The Holy Art Gallery in New York, Cambridge Photography Gallery in the UK, and Crush Collective in Rome. He describes his practice as “characterised by a ‘storytelling-first’ philosophy, utilising photography, textiles, and mixed media to deconstruct cultural semiotics and the psychology of belonging and memories.Work which seeks to bridge the gap between high-precision design and the raw, visceral narratives of contemporary life”.

Using carefully composed still lifes, Daniele Alberto Lombardi’s subject matter ranges from depictions of kitsch, like toy action-figures, to household items, such as fine linen. These items are orchestrated and constructed into holistic three-dimensional compositions which are centered within a light box, for which he photographs. The conceptual structures are a commentary on materialism, contemporary notions of mythology, and fleeting time. In these still lifes, we will find lipstick orchestrated like jet propulsion engines on a spacecraft and toys ‘playing’ with cell phones and miniature disco balls. From configurations of objects appearing similar to Christmas ornaments wrapped in fine linen to miniature sculptures and books conjoined in a way to resemble a futuristic vehicle, the still life photography of Daniele Alberto Lombardi seems to construct his own sense of contemporary mythology based on aesthetics and ironic depictions. 

The irony would be these household and kitsch items having a life of their own, as if Daniele’s lightboxes were elaborate miniature stages and he is conducting post-modern devised theatre. In the Signature and Portraiture series, the artist uses still life to redefine the meaning and purpose of the self-portrait. These performative dioramas and objects hold symbolic meaning to his identity and personal history as they reflect family heirlooms, items collected from extensive travel, and mementos which have personal emotional connections. As a result, these are ‘living’ still lifes which convey specific purposes, such as grounding the artist’s identity amidst the nihilism and despair of the digital era, where humans can be easily replaced by machines. 

M M M N (pictured above) depicts a playful yet skeptical depiction of various toys engaging each other as ‘real’ individuals and social discourse. From making a phone call to playing with yarn and a disco ball, the dinosaur, miniature Budha, and Spider-Man figure could represent different eras of time on earth ‘greeting’ each other. Complete with fabric cat ears, a block of glass, and toy car, this coherent structure reflects a playful absurdity and narrative of distance, as the artist chooses to depict discourse through toys instead of people. 

Full of exploratory themes and indulgence in personal history and identity, Daniele Alberto Lombardi’s photography converts the arts of diorama and still life to have conceptual purpose based in creating his own sense of personal contemporary mythology. In these structures, delicate items and objects convey symbolism attached to real history of the artist as well as the associations of the viewer. Through a pristine, empty white space and performative still life construction, the artist conveys the irony of juxtaposing found objects which can have various and mysterious connotations with the audience, especially when paired with configurated subjects composed in methods of unity.

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