意大利攝影師Oliviero Toscani (1942-2025) 在1月13日逝世,終年83歲,藉此來回顧他的經典廣告作品。
身為著名攝影師,他早於70年代開始,已為Mick Jagger、Patti Smith等音樂家及Andy Warhol等藝術家拍攝人像;他也是重要雜誌《COLORS》創辦人之一,操刀拍攝過多個封面,當年我從事雜誌行業時,對《COLORS》可謂愛不釋手。
若說Oliviero Toscani最廣為人知的作品,無疑是擔任時裝品牌Benneton創意總監時,所創作的一系列廣告照片。他說傳統的廣告總是試圖透過美麗的影像來兜售幸福感,而他則認為媒體及廣告均有責任提出社會問題,促使人們進行思考。

1982年,他開始擔任Benneton創意總監,自此至2000年,由他創作的Benetton廣告聚焦種族主義、愛滋病、戰爭、饑荒等主題,無不引人注目,同時也引來爭論。1991年正值海灣戰爭,當時他創作的廣告是一張在墳場拍攝的照片,以傳達出反思戰爭及呼籲和平的訊息。整齊排列的十字架墓碑充滿視覺衝擊,然而廣告也引起非議,結果被多個國家禁止刊登。另一幅更具爭議的是1994年的廣告,他以一名波斯尼亞士兵在戰爭中死去時沾滿鮮血的衣服為主角,造成很多人不安。

他的作品灌輸「世界大同」的觀念,最令人印象深刻的作品,不得不提1996年的廣告《Tre Cuori》(三顆心),畫面是三顆心臟 (來自肉市場的豬心),分別寫著WHITE、BLACK、YELLOW三種顏色的英文。人的膚色雖然各有不同,但心臟都是一樣的,藉此宣揚種族平等的理念。

另一經典之作,是1991年的廣告《Prete e Suora》(神父與修女),照片中身穿黑衣的神父,與穿著白衣的修女忘情親吻,作品原意是傳達「愛情不分神聖與世俗」的理念。然而兩名神職人員的接吻畫面,對於較為保守的宗教界而言,自然難免一頓批評。
Oliviero Toscani的創作道路一直無畏無懼,即使以今天的標準來看,依然非常前衛,令人拍案叫絕。作為一個服裝品牌,Benetton的廣告所著墨並非衣服,而是透過震撼人心的影像引來世人關注某些話題,儘管每次廣告均有審查及反對的聲音,但無可否認,這些廣告的確引起極大迴響,成功為品牌製造話題。

不過,他也並非每次作品均能安然無恙,2000年,他就因一輯死囚廣告令品牌蒙受巨大損失,從而被辭退,然而這並不代表緣分已盡。2018年,Benetton再次邀請76歲的他操刀廣告,他以九位不同膚色的裸男裸女互擁的畫面,呈現種族多元的議題,又成功引起關注。
Oliviero Toscani的攝影作品前衛且充滿啟發性,不僅挑戰傳統商業攝影模式,在全球引起社會大眾對社會議題的啟蒙與關注,也影響許多年輕攝影師的創作。
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From the projects promoting diversity and freedom of expression to the images raising awareness about AIDS, the legendary photographer Oliviero Toscani’s work for United Colors of Benetton had the power to turn corporate communications into a tool for social and cultural change.
The late Italian photographer Oliviero Toscani (1946-2025) is known for Benneton’s advertising images. For him, conventional advertising always sells happiness by representing a fantasy world. Yet, he believes the media and advertising are responsible for raising social issues and making people think.
Toscani was Benetton’s creative director from 1982 to 2000. His advertisements focused on racism, AIDS, and war, sparking striking yet controversial reactions.
The 1991 ad was a cemetery photograph that conveyed a message of reflection on war. The neatly arranged cross tombstones are shocking. This image caused criticism and was banned by many countries during the Gulf War. Another controversial ad was in 1994, which featured a photograph of the blood-soaked clothing of a dead Bosnian soldier.
Benetton’s advertisements are not about clothes but attract the world’s attention to particular topics through shocking images. Although these images caused censorship and objections, the advertisements undoubtedly attracted great attention.
However, he was fired after campaign photos of death row prisoners in the US in 2000, which caused significant economic losses for the company. But this is not the end of the story; Benetton invited him to photograph advertisements again in 2018. He presented the issue of racial diversity with a picture of naked men and women of different skin colors embracing each other, which is captivating.
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