Think of “One Night at Dinner” in the middle of nowhere, in the Australian desert.
Let’s open a can: it’s quite normal. «Are you sure?» Stefano said.
The choice was a simplified recipe of eggs Benedict carefully placed on a toasted slice of bread. Stefano is the guy who does this kind of things. He goes to the Australian desert and cooks eggs Benedict. «There is some fire, isn’t it?» he said.
His remark about fire is saying a lot. In such conditions, it’s like discovering him. It marks the passing from a wild condition to civilization. From raw to cooked, as Lévy-Strauss would have said. At last, this should be the concept of lifestyle. Now, it’s an abused word. But, as all words, it has a meaning if it is used properly. Lifestyle is something global, it belongs to man’s life and to his way of living.
Stefano Scatà represents a global lifestyle, his own lifestyle. He photographs what he is. He lives as he photographs and vice versa. And this means travel, places, food, people, things and clothes. The whole in a way that allows to catch the best side of everything very naturally. Not a “refined” way: it’s a misleading term that suggests a distortion of nature. And this is not the case of Stefano Scatà’s photos, if only for his use of the natural light. Someone defines him a gentleman, for his special way of being and his charming habits. But he isn’t a gentleman, except for his habits. He’s closer to the “junzi”, the Confucius’s nobleman. Not just because I like to think of him this way, but for that deep moral strictness that characterizes his personality. And for that special detachment he faces life with, that only those who really know Stefano feel how much it belongs to him.
Massimo Morello
PS. The bread has been actually made by the Aborigine guide. And I am not sure that the eggs’ recipe was simplified .... but they were excellent!
Stefano Scatà was born in Pordenone and lives in Bassano del Grappa.
He works as a photographer since 1984.
Let’s open a can: it’s quite normal. «Are you sure?» Stefano said.
The choice was a simplified recipe of eggs Benedict carefully placed on a toasted slice of bread. Stefano is the guy who does this kind of things. He goes to the Australian desert and cooks eggs Benedict. «There is some fire, isn’t it?» he said.
His remark about fire is saying a lot. In such conditions, it’s like discovering him. It marks the passing from a wild condition to civilization. From raw to cooked, as Lévy-Strauss would have said. At last, this should be the concept of lifestyle. Now, it’s an abused word. But, as all words, it has a meaning if it is used properly. Lifestyle is something global, it belongs to man’s life and to his way of living.
Stefano Scatà represents a global lifestyle, his own lifestyle. He photographs what he is. He lives as he photographs and vice versa. And this means travel, places, food, people, things and clothes. The whole in a way that allows to catch the best side of everything very naturally. Not a “refined” way: it’s a misleading term that suggests a distortion of nature. And this is not the case of Stefano Scatà’s photos, if only for his use of the natural light. Someone defines him a gentleman, for his special way of being and his charming habits. But he isn’t a gentleman, except for his habits. He’s closer to the “junzi”, the Confucius’s nobleman. Not just because I like to think of him this way, but for that deep moral strictness that characterizes his personality. And for that special detachment he faces life with, that only those who really know Stefano feel how much it belongs to him.
Massimo Morello
PS. The bread has been actually made by the Aborigine guide. And I am not sure that the eggs’ recipe was simplified .... but they were excellent!
Stefano Scatà was born in Pordenone and lives in Bassano del Grappa.
He works as a photographer since 1984.
Metti una sera a cena nel mezzo del nulla del deserto australiano.
Apri una scatoletta: è normale. «Sei sicuro?» disse Stefano.
L’alternativa si rivelò una versione semplificata delle uova alla benedict adagiate su una fetta di pane abbrustolito. Stefano è uno che fa di queste cose. Va nel deserto australiano ma si cucina le uova alla benedict. «C’è il fuoco, no?» disse.
La constatazione del fuoco non è cosa da poco. In certe condizioni è un po’ come la sua scoperta. Segna il passaggio da una condizione selvaggia a una di civiltà. Dal crudo al cotto, come avrebbe detto Lévy-Strauss. Alla fine questo dovrebbe essere il concetto di lifestyle. Ormai è divenuta una parola un po’ abusata. Ma, come tutte le parole, ha senso se usata correttamente. Il lifestyle, quindi, è qualcosa di globale, che attiene alla vita dell’uomo, al suo modo di vivere.
Stefano Scatà rappresenta un lifestyle globale, il suo. Lui fotografa ciò che è. Vive come fotografa, o viceversa. E questo significa viaggio, luoghi, cibo, persone, cose, abiti. Il tutto in un modo che permette di constatarne il lato migliore, più naturalmente colto. Non “raffinato”: è termine fuorviante, indica uno snaturamento. Cosa che nelle foto di Scatà, non fosse altro per l’uso della luce naturale, non c’è. Qualcuno lo definisce un gentleman, per un certo modo di essere e qualche vezzo. Non lo è, vezzi a parte. Si avvicina di più allo “junzi”, il gentiluomo confuciano. Non è solo perché mi piace pensarlo così, ma per il profondo rigore morale che caratterizza quel personaggio. E per quel certo distacco con cui affronta la vita e che solo chi conosce bene Stefano sa quanto gli appartenga.
Massimo Morello
PS. Il pane, in realtà, l’aveva fatto la guida aborigena. E non sono sicuro che la ricetta delle uova fosse semplificata. Ma erano ottime.
Stefano Scatà è nato a Pordenone e vive a Bassano del Grappa.
Svolge l'attività di fotografo dal 1984.