1. Water is the lifeblood of humanity. Without it, there are des-
erts. With it, society thrives. So it’s no surprise that water has been a
constant inspiration to Giorgio Armani: in the slick, wet models for his
sunglasses; in the line of high-fashion swimwear he touts each sum-
mer; in the warm, wet scent of his many colognes. Since 2009, water
has also been a social cause for Mr. Armani. Through his Acqua for Life
project, he’s been able to supply millions of liters of drinking water to
thirsty communities around the world.
It’s no surprise, then, that water also figures into Mr. Armani’s pa-
tronage of the arts. Each year in Paris, the grand exhibition Paris Photo
showcases the greatest works of artistic photography from around the
world, and since 2011, Armani has presented a segment of the show
called The ACQUA Exhibit, full of photographs specifically related to
the theme of water. This year, for the first time, Paris Photo will be hold-
ing a spring showcase in Los Angeles, appropriately called Paris Photo
LA. Armani will not be missing out on this new venue, showcasing
“ACQUA #3,” his latest sponsored exhibit.
This work, a series of poignant photographs, centers around Haiti
and the devastating earthquake that struck the country in 2010. The
images are the work of Jim Goldberg, a distinguished photographer
as well as professor in the California College of Arts and Crafts. In black
Water,
Water
Every-
where
At Paris Photo LA, Giorgio
Armani sponsors a wet and
wondrous exhibit.
By Charles Shoultz
and white, the photographs depict the quiet desperation of the Haitian
people as they grapple with the enormity of the disaster that has befallen
them. Appropriately, each photograph features water, and in them there
is the heavy sense of how vital water is to human life. As Armani and
Goldberg both understand, without water, there is nothing.
Photoscourtesyof©JimGoldberg/MagnumPhotos
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