11 February 2013
Born in La Spezia in 1970, he started out as a mechanic and is now a photographer. He contributes to Rolling Stone, GQ, Wired, Riders, 11 Freunde and Crush Fanzine and works with the agencies BBDO and 1861 United. In 2007 he took part in the exhibition Vade Retro. Arte e Omosessualità, da von Gloeden a Pierre et Gilles (“Vade Retro. Art and Homosexuality, from von Gloeden to Pierre et Gilles”), curated by Vittorio Sgarbi and Eugenio Viola, and two years later 1861 United published a monumental monograph, The Ecology of Image, which Jacopo says he doesn’t deserve. He attends international fairs and exhibitions, but as this isn’t enough for him, he has decided to open a club in La Spezia, the BTomic, where he lives and offers people music, drink, food, fanzines and a lot of experimentation. You’ll find him on Instagram. His role models are Sergio Fregoso and Federico Pepe. Jacopo Benassi is in a class of his own.
The song you never get tired of listening to.
L’amore by MissQlee.
The movie you can watch over and over again.
Claudio Caligari’s Amore tossico. A movie from 1983.
The book you fell head over heels in love with.
Wanted! Storia, tecnica e estetica della fotografia criminale, segnaletica e giudiziaria by Ando Gilardi.
The object you’re most attached to.
Vintage leather slippers and Adidas Adilette sandals.
Your favorite place.
Piazza Brin, La Spezia.
A cult film you cannot stand.
Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction.
A literary classic you can’t bear.
I ought to read them first…
The most beautiful automobile ever made.
The Fiat 126.
Three stops on a journey around the world.
Mexico City, Buenos Aires, New York.
A contemporary artist whose future in the history of art is assured.
Me.
An architect to whom you would entrust the construction of a fantastic place.
Me again.
A fashion designer for an epoch-making show.
Valentino.
An elegant person.
Federico Pepe.
An inelegant person.
Tonino Paziente in Tony Pagoda e i suoi amici by Paolo Sorrentino.
Who would you advise to change profession?
All the photo editors in Italy. Except one.
A bad habit you have?
Spending time in gay chat rooms.
What would you like to overindulge in?
No comment.
What can’t you do without?
My slippers.
What would you like to be a champion of?
Ping-pong. Actually, I am.
The hotel and restaurant at the top of your personal league table.
Hotel Charly in Milan and the Osteria delle Pietre at Vezzano Ligure.
The greatest invention of all time.
The camera.
The historical figure you are most grateful to.
Sandro Pertini.