When I saw Mattia Baldi’s book (@ mattiabaldi_personal) “Casting” for the first time, I thought: in the ranks of authors about modelling has arrived. As the author of a book about the modelling business I know firsthand that there are few publications in this field. But Baldi’s book has gone beyond the format of an ordinary book about modelling, it is a project of a black-and-white photo book about women who are insanely stylish, real and inspiring.
Mattia started practicing his photography skills in Beijing where he lived for more than six years. His love for Asia was based on a huge interest in Taoism, Eastern religions and traditional Chinese beliefs. In Beijing, he collaborated and worked with such major clients as the Art Museum, Microsoft, and Facebook. He was a professor of photography and media at one of the Beijing Universities. In 2013, Mattia moved to Bangkok where he lives today.
What is your book about?
This project is a completely black-and-white photo book about women. Actresses, models, dancers. I wanted to present their personality in natural sunlight without fashionable poses so that they felt that they did not need to look like they would typically.
How long have you been working on this?
It took several years of filming to complete the book. This is not a commercial job. The book required certain types of models and a certain mood to get the desired results. I shot more than 200 models for this book and less than 50 of them were published. The choice of final shots was very strict.
Where can we buy the book?
The first edition of “Casting” is now quite difficult to find as it has already been sold out. A rare numbered and signed edition of 30 copies is available on the publisher’s website: https://seipersei.com/collections/rarities/products/casting-by-mattia-baldi.
You can also order on my website: http://www.mattiabaldi.com/fineartprints.
What in your opinion is happening with fashion and modelling these days?
Since I conceived the book “Casting” a few years ago a lot has changed. The new generation of consumers have other cultural guidelines, more diverse. They do not need to defend any ideals, they like to mix art styles and, of course, do not idolise their icons. Models, actors and musicians have descended from the pedestal today and have become closer to the common people. Never in history has there been such a situation that has developed in modern culture. Fashion and modelling are developing as fast as they can, trying to keep up with the fast pace of the modern mainstream.
What is the model today?
The last 20 years have been dominated by rich rappers who defined fashion, music and goods. Today we have a post-rapper culture, melodic and dramatic, where large multinational companies are trying to impose noble concepts like inclusivity and diversity. Nevertheless, the system is able to identify real talents and use them in the best possible way, but the overall situation is quite complex both culturally and socially. I feel that after this “uncertain wave” a new important moment in art will come. Today you can be a model in Tik-Tok, on OnlyFans or a model of a real agency — it is difficult to determine who will be in demand and who will not.
How much do tolerance and body positivity change modelling today? Do you like these changes?
Everyone should be happy with their body, and no one should feel oppressive if they don’t look like a top model or a movie star. Hollywood today is more like a modelling agency than the film industry. I also see that modelling agencies are trying to find different types of beauties, but this is a path without barriers. It is easy to confuse the audience, but at the same time we will lose our attractiveness as communicators. We need guidelines that will ultimately define the style and the decade. I don’t see people like Richard Avedon or Peter Lindbergh today who have incredible taste and culture. I think this is the moment of the reboot. The old one is finished, but the new one has not yet begun.
Text by K. Mironova
Photo provided by M. Baldi
