ToiletMiles PaperAldridge

Miles Aldridge rose to prominence in the mid-nineties with his arresting, highly stylized photographs with references to film noir, art history and pop culture. Born in London in 1964, the son of famed art director and illustrator Alan Aldridge, his interest in photography began at an early age when he was given a Nikon F camera by his father. An acclaimed colourist, Aldridge renders elaborate mise-en-scènes in a palette of vibrant acidic hues. These glamorous images probe society’s idealised notions of domestic bliss where sinister undercurrents swirl beneath a flawless surface. Aldridge has worked prolifically for more than thirty years. Miles’ work is in the permanent collections of The National Portrait Gallery, The Victoria and Albert Museum and The British Museum and his work has subsequently been featured in TIME, The Face, the New Yorker and Vogue Italia. Sam Stourdzé is an exhibition curator. Since 2020 he has been the Director of the French Academy in Rome – Villa Medici, of which he is a former Fellow. He previously directed the Rencontres d’Arles (France) and the Musée de l’Élysée in Lausanne. Maurizio Cattelan is one of the most prominent Italian artists in the contemporary art scene. Over a thirty-yearlong career, his works highlight the paradoxes of society and reflect on political and cultural scenarios with great depth and insight. By using iconic images and a caustic visual language, his works spark heated public debate fostering a sense of collective participation.