Mario Santoro-Woith

Mario Santorio-Woith (born 1968) is an Italian artist based in Todi, Umbria in central Italy and New York City. He is known for using techniques such as photocopies, screen printing, drawing and collage in his photography. He was a student of Oliviero Toscani and Victor Hugo Contini.

Work

Woith-Santoro was born in Todi, Umbria and attended the University of Rome “La Sapienza” from 1988 to 1993 where he studied Visual Anthropology. Santoro-Woith’s work has been exhibited internationally and his work is held in public and private collections. His solo exhibitions have included a prestigious show at the Musée de l'Elysée in Lausanne, Wheaton College (MA), Galleria "Il Diaframma" in Milan, M.Y. Art Prospects Gallery in New York. From 2010 to 2012 he was one of the artists of the ABC Artists' Books Cooperative. The book trilogy, EUR, Decadence Darkness Empire and More War Less Art were acquired by the Library Council Collection of artist’s books of Museum of Modern Art (New York) in 2011.

Early years (1986-1992)

Santoro-Woith began as a classic photographer working in a very traditional manner, doing documentary, portraits and architectural photography. He has been photographing extensively since the age of 14.

Experimental Photography (1992–2000)

His early experimental work is reminiscent of the tradition of reproducing monuments of art and he continues this tradition. Mixing familiar images of Italy with new mediums, he empathizes with the contemporaneous. During this period, he began an extensive use of photocopying and industrial machines mixed with photography. With these machines and techniques, he created gigantic works and installations - rolls that spanned meters.

Latest works

Woith’s latest work represents a return to documentary photography. The influence of different media used over the past years remains very important. These works are printed with Electrophotography (LED head) technique, with Organic Photoconductor Drum and closed toner system, on special and unusual papers, such as black recycled paper, rice paper and other handmade papers.

Books

From 1998 to 2013 Mario Santoro-Woith has self-published five limited edition books for artists. The visual research displayed in these books explores the darker part of humanity and draws attention to evil in all its guises - racism, [...], [...] etc. In his first book, EUR, he looks at propaganda and the form it takes in architecture. In his second, Decadence, Darkness, Empire he visually explores imperialism and in the last one, More War, Less Art the focus is on symbolism. The books present photographic techniques, drawing, screen printing and other mixed media. These books are hand bound in Perugia, Italy. Each copy is numbered and signed, and of very high artistic quality.

Solo Shows (Selected)

• 2006 New York – “Empire, Decadence, Darkness” – Italian Academy at Columbia University
• 2002 New York - “Heisenberg’s Snapshots” (M.Y. Art Prospects Gallery)
• 1999 Milan - Galleria “Il Diaframma” (Curator Lanfranco Colombo)
• 1998 Losanne - Musée de l’ Elysée (Curator William Ewing)

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