JUAN PAPAGNI MECA

Those who visit the website regularly will certainly need no introduction to Juan Papagni Meca’s work. You can see many times how flexible Juan is as a photographer, he tries his hand at many subjects and this interview is a summary – a presentation of what he does. Read it with love in English and Spanish. This is the first Christmas post, so I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Could we start with some background information about you? Where you grow up, where you based, how did you get interested in photography?

I was born in a small village called San Rafael, in Mendoza, Argentina. As a gay, closeted male in a conservative and small town, I had a difficult childhood. Art became my way to escape from these situations and to express myself. I have always been interested in and curious about image, design, fashion, cinema, music, dance and painting. I decided to study Architecture at Universities in Argentina and Mexico. Even though photography has always been part of my life, it took me several years to finally decide to begin working and studying it, thinking of it as a career, and considering the possibility of making it my way of living; I finally made a decision to quit Architecture, moved to Buenos Aires, and entered the fashion world, working with brands and magazines. It was a wonderful time, running from runways to parties. -Yes, I’m a workaholic but also a party boy.
My hubby (Ulrico), is my muse, He’s a choreographer and introduced me to the Dance world. It was at that time that I fell in love with nudes in photography, watching the beauty and elegance of a dancing body.
In 2017 I moved to Spain. I’m currently based in Gran Canaria, and travel around the world for photo projects.

Nací en un pequeño pueblo llamado San Rafael, en Mendoza, Argentina. Como hombre gay y encerrado en un pueblo pequeño y conservador, tuve una infancia difícil. El arte se convirtió en mi forma de escapar de estas situaciones y expresarme. Siempre tuve interés y curiosidad por la imagen, el diseño, la moda, el cine, la música, la danza y la pintura. Decidí estudiar Arquitectura y me gradué en México. Si bien la fotografía siempre estuvo a mi alrededor, me tomó varios años decidirme finalmente en comenzar a trabajar de ello y estudiarla, pensándola como un tema serio, considerando la posibilidad de hacer de ella mi forma de vida; entonces dejé la Arquitectura, me mudé a Buenos Aires y entré al mundo de la moda, trabajando con marcas y revistas. Fue una época maravillosa, corriendo de las pasarelas a las fiestas, sí, soy un adicto al trabajo pero también un fiestero.
Mi esposo (Ulrico), mi musa, es coreógrafo, él me introdujo en el mundo de la Danza, y fue en esa época cuando me enamoré del desnudo en la fotografía, contemplando la belleza y elegancia de un cuerpo bailando.
En 2017 me mudé a España, ahora estoy radicado en Gran Canaria y viajo por todo el mundo para varios proyectos.

There are many ways to learn photography. In school, on your own, learning from a master, and I think it’s also very useful to look at a lot of photos you like, so you’re unintentionally trying to push your knowledge in that direction. How did you become a photographer, and do you recommend your path to others?

Well, it is a mix of all those things you named: from an academy, on my own, a lot of masters and especially looking at magazines and art books. Since I was a teenager, I used to cut out all the photos I liked from magazines and so I created a big collection, they were inspiration and references for my practice.
My middle brother was a portrait photographer and I started assisting him. I think assisting is an excellent way of learning. But we are all different and everybody has to carve their own path. I’m constantly taking photos, experimenting, trying new things and learning.

Bueno, en realidad es una mezcla de todas esas cosas que nombraste: de una academia, por mi propia cuenta, de muchos maestros y sobre todo de mirar revistas y libros de arte. Desde adolescente recortaba todas las fotos que me gustaban de las revistas y así creé una gran colección, fueron inspiración y referencias para mi práctica.
Mi hermano del medio era fotógrafo de retratos y comencé asistiéndolo. Considero que asistir es una muy buena manera de aprender. Pero todos somos diferentes y cada uno tiene que hacer su propio camino. Para mí es vivir, intentar y aprender constantemente.

Did you always know photography was your ultimate go-to outlet of expression?

I think it was always there but it took me time to accept and embrace it. Art in general is my way of expression. I used to paint, then I worked as an Architect for several years, then I turned into a Photographer. It was always the same inner force that guided me: Art and the love of beauty.

Creo que siempre estuvo ahí, pero me tomó tiempo aceptarlo y abrazarlo. El arte en general es mi forma de expresión. Pintaba, luego trabajé como Arquitecto durante varios años, luego me convertí en Fotógrafo, pero siempre fue la misma fuerza interior la que me guió: el arte y el amor por la belleza.

Your work ranges over a wide spectrum, but is there a subject you prefer to photograph? What would an imaginary ideal shoot look like?

I have to say that I’m quite lucky because I always photograph what I like. I usually work on several projects, enjoying my job.
I love taking photos in the Studio, in Nature, or using Architecture as backgrounds, but always with a person as the main subject.
If I have the chance to design my dream photoshoot, it would probably involve Louis Hofmann naked in a Mies van der Rohe building, ha ha ha…

Tengo que decir que tengo mucha suerte, siempre fotografiando lo que me gusta. Trabajando en varios proyectos, disfrutando de mi trabajo.
Me encanta tomar fotografías en estudio, en la naturaleza y en la arquitectura como fondos, pero siempre con una persona como tema principal.
Si tuviera la oportunidad de diseñar la sesión de mis sueños, probablemente involucraría a Louis Hofmann desnudo en un edificio de Mies van der Rohe, ja, ja, ja…

Following your career, your photos seem to have been featured everywhere that matters. Outside of photography, what is it that drives you to get better and better and more and more?

Being an artist sometimes is difficult because you always depend on your feelings, intuition and sensibility and if one day you are in a bad mood, it can be hard, but on the other hand it can be an amazing tool, using that darkness to create beauty and at the same time heal.
For me, taking photos is really therapeutic, connecting with the other person, and creating chemistry till the moment the camera disappears and the images are born from a dialogue between the other person and me. This is what I call: “Poetry of the Image”.
I’m constantly learning from my process and that’s what I consider makes me better. Photography is part of my life, I couldn’t live without it.

Ser artista a veces es difícil porque siempre dependes de tus sentimientos, intuición y sensibilidad y si algún día estás de mal humor, puede ser duro, pero por otro lado puede ser una herramienta increíble, usar esa oscuridad para crear belleza y al mismo tiempo sanar.
Para mí hacer fotos es realmente terapéutico, conectar con la otra persona, crear química hasta el momento en que la cámara desaparece y las imágenes nacen de un diálogo entre la otra persona y yo. Haciendo lo que yo llamo: “Poesía de la Imagen”.
Estoy constantemente aprendiendo de mi proceso y eso es lo que considero que me hace mejor. La fotografía es parte de mi vida, no podría dejarla fuera.

What is the best thing to being a photographer?

Meeting new people and usually becoming friends with them is the most enriching aspect of being a photographer. Traveling and discovering new places is the second best part.

Conocer gente nueva y, por lo general hacerme amigo de ellos es el aspecto más enriquecedor de ser fotógrafo. Viajar y descubrir nuevos lugares es la segunda mejor parte.

What makes a guy a good ‘model’ for you?

First of all, for me the word “model” is tricky, I would rather say that I photograph people, human beings. I think I have two ways of working:
On one hand, there’s a story to tell, I direct and the person performs. On the other hand, there’s a story to show, the person does his things and I follow him. I try to work with artists, sensitive and sensible people who speak my language, artist’s language, whether they are dancers, actors, painters, musicians…

En primer lugar, para mí la palabra “modelo” es engañosa, más bien digo que fotografío personas, seres humanos.
Creo que tengo dos formas de trabajar:
Uno, hay una historia que contar, yo dirijo y la persona actúa. Dos, hay una historia que mostrar, la persona hace sus cosas y yo lo sigo. Intento trabajar con artistas, personas sensibles y sensatas, personas que hablan mi idioma, el idioma de los artistas, ya sean bailarines, actores, pintores, músicos…

You like to tell a story with your pictures. When/how do you put the story together in your head, do you know in advance what kind of pictures you want to take, or does the story develop during the shoot?

That’s the good part of being flexible… sometimes I already have an idea so I try to stick to my mood board, the story in my mind, the references, etc.…
And other times it’s completely unplanned and just want to follow my intuition and perform spontaneously and improvise.
I enjoy both processes.

Eso es lo bueno de ser flexible… a veces ya tengo una idea, así que trato de ceñirme a mi panel de ideas, la historia que tengo en mente, las referencias, etc.…
Y a veces sucede que sólo quiero seguir mi intuición y actuar de forma espontánea e improvisar. Disfruto de ambos procesos.

Good photos need a little magic or chemistry. Do you have any tricks you use to help the model get in the mood for the shoot?

I think I have soothing and nice energy, and that helps me a lot. Sometimes it is difficult to connect, but I try and try till magic happens and suddenly everything is really fluid and easy. I always say to the person that it’s a seduction game, if he seduces me, then he seduces my audience.

Me considero un chico con linda energía y eso me ayuda mucho. A veces es difícil conectar, pero lo intento y lo intento hasta que ocurre la magia y de repente todo es realmente fluido y fácil. Siempre le digo a la persona que es un juego de seducción, si me seduce a mí, entonces seduce a mi público.

Who are your biggest artist influences?

Ooohhh… there are so many… I cannot name just one… Egon Schiele, Juliette Binoche, Dimitris Papaioannou, David Bowie, Jil Sander, Robert Mappletorphe, ancient Greek artists, Nan Goldin, Krzysztof Kieślowski, Francis Bacon, Tilda Swinton, Wong Kar Wai…

Ooohhh… hay muchos… No puedo nombrar sólo uno… Egon Schiele, Juliette Binoche, Dimitris Papaioannou, David Bowie, Jil Sander, Robert Mappletorphe, artistas griegos antiguos, Nan Goldin, Krzysztof Kieślowski, Francis Bacon, Tilda Swinton, Wong Kar Wai…

What do you do when you got time for yourself?

When I’m not taking or retouching photos, probably I’m exercising, doing my skin care routine, going to a party or watching movies.

Cuando no estoy tomando o retocando fotos, probablemente estoy haciendo ejercicio, haciendo mi rutina de cuidado de la piel, saliendo de fiesta o viendo películas.

What are your plans for 2024?

I’m not a “planning” guy, I’m always living in the present.

No soy alguien que “planifica”, siempre vivo el presente.

Please finish the sentences:
Deeply in love with … Beauty
Your favorite movie is … The trilogy: Blue, Black and Red from Krzysztof Kieślowski.
My dream is … Peace and Love in the world.

Profundamente enamorado de… la Belleza
Tu película favorita es… La trilogía: Bleu, Blanc y Rouge de Krzysztof Kieślowski.
Mi sueño es… Paz y Amor en el mundo.