Science, nature, and discovery infuse all Gianfranco's work. He uses his photography practice to explore and test the limits of visual perception.

He approaches all his projects in a bespoke way; starting with researching and exploring the properties of the material selected so he can understand how to work it.
He then begins experimenting with light. He explores how best to use it to contour the subject matter for clear and descriptive images. He has built-up repetition and contrast within series of photographs on each subject. Complex problems are thrilling to him.

He embraces the technically difficult as it challenges him to produce art that surpasses those challenges. Pushing boundaries, subverting expectations, endlessly and relentlessly searching for beauty and the unseen. The geometry of nature is a huge inspiration to him. He often works with very close crops of the microscopic structures he photographs. This transforms their intrinsic patterns and textures into the abstract, allowing space for the viewer to engage their imagination. He has made explicit the implicit intricacies of chemistry and physics, exposing the detail within common compounds such as water, glass, sugar, spices, flowers, and light.

Gianfranco Merati (b. Asmara, Eritrea, Africa) is an Italian photographer based in London. Gianfranco’s motivation as a photographer is that “beauty is everywhere”. He seeks to reveal it. For the last decade he has been developing his photographic practice, through building skills and reflecting on projects.

Gianfranco’s focus is on abstract and conceptual photography, where most of his recent work has developed. Exploring the complex geometry found within nature, he has created many photographic series including projects revealing tessellating patterns within insects’ wings; magnetic fluid ‘pulled’ into rippling miniature landscapes; surreal shapes given to melted sugar; striking electricity lightning that dissipates through the air; and more.

Projects are often the result of research into the properties of certain materials or phenomena and, in the most complex cases, may last for several weeks or months. At times, however, ideas spark from very simple things, like the observation of leaves that have fallen from a tree and that decay, but yet preserve a striking beauty in their inner structure.

Using both high-tech methods and innovative use of basic means, each final image is exacting and verging on the unreal. This, despite the fact that Gianfranco does not manipulate his images digitally to create any illusions in his work.

Web: www.gmerati.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gianfrancomerati
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianfranco-a-merati-b24157228
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gieffeemme