Born and raised in Rome, Italy, Gaia received a Law degree from La Sapienza University, Rome, and subsequently chose to pursue an artistic career devoting her professional efforts to the visual arts and documentary photography, depicting and researching the interactions between the singular human psyche and the world-at-large, with socially driven photo-reportages and personal researches and investigations.
She works primarily as a visual artist and, since 2010, with the birth of the Light TV project, as a filmmaker.
Gaia Light’s photographs and artworks have been extensively published and exhibited internationally.
Along with Alessandro Cosmelli, is the creator of The Buzz Project, a multi-city photo-reconnaissance project, inaugurated in 2010, which represents a symbolic portrait of the contemporary metropolis and its inhabitants, as seen through the moving frame of the public bus window.
Her first photographic book, Brooklyn Buzz (2012), published by Damiani and realized with co-author Alessandro Cosmelli, was an international success and nominated by Pictures of the Year International (POYi) as Best Photography Book Award Finalist for 2012. She is currently working at new chapters of the multimedia The Buzz Project, respectively based in São Paulo (Brazil), Milano (Italy), Havana (Cuba), Mumbai (India), Istanbul (Turkey), Mexico City (Mexico), Paris (France) and Tokyo (Japan).
Since 2010 she has been working on a long-term, perpetually ongoing, project, Mass Surveillance, which is the result of a sustained, photographic-documentary survey of the thousands of publicly accessible webcams available on the Internet. The presence of this wide network of surveillance cameras illustrates how public, as well as private day-to-day activities are constantly monitored and subtly or explicitly controlled. The series is composed of still photos shot with a digital camera through the screen of a computer while attending freely accessible webcams’ live-streaming sessions on the Internet and aims to question the increasingly intricate connections between privacy rights and surveillance needs in the post-9/11 world.
Light TV, Gaia Light’s Independent Reality TV Channel on Youtube, started as a video experiment provocatively based on the idea of focusing on the “real” of everyday life in the contemporary city versus the hyperactivity of so-called reality television.
Light TV casually documents instances of urban serendipity that we all encounter in going about our daily routines, while also presenting equally absurd scenarios that are staged only insofar as human beings are incessantly performative creatures at heart. Part spectacle, part cinéma vérité, these very short documentary videos are also charismatic studies of human nature, or exemplary moments – some banal and some over the top – that are, in fact, the very basis for reality television. Since Calderon and Shakespeare, we know that life is often a dream and the world often a stage. What Light TV tells us is that the inherent theatricality of the world is also intensely lyrical and intricately baroque, by degrees, and that the “real” of the real world is so much more rewarding and interesting than the “real” of reality television.
She lives and works between New York and Miami.
SELECTED PROJECTS AND EXHIBITIONS
2019. Mass Surveillance: A streaming Odyssey. Short Documentary Film. To be released.
2019. Curatorial Collaboration. Aethusa: Photographic Exhibition by Claudio Palmisano. Stadio di Domiziano, Rome, Italy.
2018. Curatorial Collaboration. Triennale Museum, Milan, Italy. In Transito: Un Porto a San Vittore. Photographic Exhibition by Nanni Fontana.
2018. Milano Buzz, Exhibition – MILANO PHOTO WEEK 2018, Hosted by Officine Fotografiche Milano, Milan, Italy: JUNE 7 – JULY 6, 2018
2018. Havana Buzz Book, Damiani Editore, TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS, Honorable Mention, CA Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2018. Havana Buzz Book, Damiani Editore, RENDEZ-VOUS IMAGE PHOTO BOOK AWARD, Palais des Congrès, Strasbourg, France.
2018. Revue Point Contemporain, #8 (April, March, May), Featured Interview.
2018. Jeune Création, Exposition d’Art Contemporain, 68th Edition, Beaux-Arts, Paris, France: Member of the International Selection Committee.
2017. Havana Buzz Book, Damiani Editore, PARIS PHOTO, Grand Palais, Paris, France.
2017. Book Publication: Havana Buzz, published by Damiani, Worldwide Book publication
2017. Realization of the Multimedia Series Paris Buzz – The Buzz Project (2010-Ongoing)
2017. Realization of the Multimedia Series Mexico City Buzz – The Buzz Project (2010-Ongoing)
2016. Realization of the Multimedia Series Istanbul Buzz – The Buzz Project (2010-Ongoing)
2016. Realization of the Multimedia Series Mumbai Buzz – The Buzz Project (2010-Ongoing)
2016. Editing for Book Publication: Enel World, by Alessandro Cosmelli, Texts by François Hèbel, Edited by Gaia Light, Published by Damiani,
2016. Editing for Book Publication: Enel People, by Alessandro Cosmelli, Texts by François Hèbel, Edited by Gaia Light, Published by Damiani
2015. Book Publication: Milano Buzz, published by Damiani, USA and Worldwide Book publication
2015. Leica Technical Sponsor of The Buzz Project – The Italian division of the prestigious Leica Camera AG officially offered technical support to the overall Buzz Project.
2014. Premio Roberto Cavanna, Finalist
2014. Book Publication: Milano Buzz, published by Damiani, Italian Book publication
2014 Brooklyn Buzz – Istanbul Photo Festival
2014. Galleria Edieuropa, Group Exhibition2014. The Mila Project, Gavin Keeney, Curator, “Shadow-Lands” II: NOT-I/THOU, Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library (ADPML), Deakin University, School of Architecture and Built Environment, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
2013.Mass Surveillance will be featured in the Exhibition: Senza Pericolo: Costruzioni e Sicurezza, curated by Federico Bucci, May-September 2013, Triennale Design Museum, Milan, Italy, 2013.
2013. Brooklyn Buzz, The Half King Photography Series, curated by Anna Van Lenten & James Price, June-July 2013,The Half King, New York, NY
2013. Ilex Collection, Ilex Photo Art Editions, Ilex Gallery, Rome, Italy
2012. Mass Surveillance, Jeune Creation 2012, International Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Centquatre, Paris, France
2012. Mass Surveillance, Galleria Edi Europa, Fotografia Festival Internazionale di Roma, Italy
2012. Brooklyn Buzz, Foiano Fotografia Festival, Galleria Furio del Furia, Foiano della Chiana, Arezzo, Italy
2012. Brooklyn Buzz, The Ilex Collection, Ilex Gallery, Rome, Italy
2012. Brooklyn Buzz, Galleria Officine Fotografiche, FotoLeggendo Festival, Rome, Italy
2012. Brooklyn Buzz, Fotografia Festival Internazionale di Roma, Rome, Italy
2012. Brooklyn Buzz, Book Publication by Damiani. Texts by Gavin Keeney, James Wellford, Marion Durand
2012. Shadow-lands, Gavin Keeney, Curator, Lascelles Gallery, Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library, Deakin University, Waterfront Campus, Geelong, Australia
2012. Quadrato Nomade, Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Rome, Italy
2012. Light TV: Independent Reality TV Channel, Gaialight Channel on Youtube, Video Art Experimental Platform. Launch
2012. Merry Ilex, Group Show, Curated by Ilex Photo Art Editions, 10b Photography Gallery, Rome, Italy
2011. Mass Surveillance, LACDA, Los Angeles Center For Digital Art, Los Angeles, USA
2011. Cam Girls Met Ladies, The Others Art Show, Site Specific Installation, Ex Carcere Le Nuove, Turin, Italy
2011. Brooklyn Buzz, Foiano Fotografia Festival, Foiano, Italy
2011. Cam Girls Met Ladies, Fotoleggendo Festival, ISA, Rome, Italy
2011. Brooklyn Buzz, New York Photo Festival, Multimedia Room, curated by Elisabeth Biondi and Enrico Bossan, Dumbo Arts Center, Brooklyn, New York
2010. Artist Residency, The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, Bethany, Connecticut, USA
2010. Darklight Christmas 2010, Galleria Don Chishiotte, Rome, Italy
2010. Ilex Photo Collection, Photographia Gallery, Milan, Italy
2010. Cruzamentos, Territòrio da Foto Gallery, Sao Paulo, Brazil
2010. Cruzamentos, Galeria de Gavea, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2010. Cruzamentos, Arte Plural Galeria, Recife, PE, Brazil
2009. Gallery Artists Show, Galleria Fontanella Borghese, Rome, Italy
2009. Light America, Galleria Fontanella Borghese, Rome, Italy
2009. Bare Smile 2/13, Performance with Lidia Ravera, in collaboration with Teatro Valle, ETI, La Coda dell’ Occhio. Villa Torlonia, Rome, Italy
2009. Bare Smile 2/13, Site-Specific Installation, Teatro Valle, Rome, Italy
2009. Bare War 1/13, Site-Specific Installation and performance, with Francesco Zizola, 10b Photography Gallery, Rome, Italy
2008-2009. Light America: American Wanderings of a Cardboard Stand-Up. Temporary site-specific installations photographed across America (series): California, July 2008; Arizona, Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, August-September 2008; Brooklyn, New York, October 2008; Detroit, Michigan, November 2008; Miami, Florida, December 2008; Washington, DC, January 20, 2009, Presidential Inaugural Ceremony; and New York, New York, February-March 2009
2008. Light Treatment /2, KunstArt International Art Fair, Bolzano, Italy
2008. Light Treatment /2, Solo Show, Drissien Galerie, Munich, Germany
2008. Light Treatment /1, Solo show, KunstPraxis der Siemens AG, Munich, Germany
2008. Starlight in New York: Homage to Tribeca Film Festival, Solo Show, Nancy Koltes Gallery, New York, New York, USA. Supported by the Italian Cultural Institute, New York
2007. Starlight, December 2007. Solo show, Café Panique, Paris, France
2007. Starlight, Solo show, Paris, France. Homage to the Rome Film Festival promoted by the Italian Institute of Culture, Paris, in collaboration with the cultural association La Coda dell’Occhio, Rome, and La Libreria, Paris, France
2007. Burma on my Mind, Site-Specific Installation and Performance dedicated to the Burmese cause within the context of the fifth edition of “Roma Design+”, International Exhibition of Industrial Design, Spazio Etoile, Rome, Italy
2007. Light Treatment. Solo Show, Roma Design+, International Exhibition of Industrial Design, in collaboration with La Sapienza University of Rome: Art, Design and New Technologies Section, Spazio Etoile, Rome, Italy
2007. Underground 02: Examples of Urban Art, Homage to Master Mario Schifano, Studio Giga, Rome, Italy
2007. 35mm, Yuko & Biba Fashion Showroom, Rome, Italy
2006. 9×100 / Light TV, Galleria Santa Cecilia, Fotografia Festival Internazionale di Roma
2005. Made in USA, AbitArt Hotel, Rome, Italy
2005. Can, Solo Show, Galleria Santa Cecilia, Rome, Italy
2004. Light, Solo Show, Galleria Santa Cecilia, Rome, Italy
WEBSITE
www.gaialight.com
BOOKS
2017. Havana Buzz, Published by Damiani. Worldwide
2015. Milano Buzz, Published by Damiani. Worldwide
2012. Brooklyn Buzz, Published by Damiani. Worldwide
2017. The Venus Project, Self-Published
2014. Mass Surveillance 2011-2014, Self-Published
2013. The Mila Project, Self-Published
2010. Light War, Self-Published
2011. Dark Light, Self-Published
2011. Mass Surveillance, Self-Published
2011. Cam Girls Met Ladies, Self-Published
2009. Light America – American Wanderings of a Cardboard Stand-up, Self-Published
AWARDS
2013. Pictures of the Year International (POYi), Best Photography Book Award Finalist for the book Brooklyn Buzz
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2010. The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, Bethany, CT, USA
Gaia Light’s photographs and artworks have been extensively published by leading international newspapers and magazines
SELECTED MAGAZINE AND NEWSPAPERS
– Newsweek
– Newsweek International
– Journal de la Photographie
– Newsweek Japan
– Global Entrepreneur, BRAVO Edition, China
– Il Giornale dell’ Arte
– Galatea
– The Huffington Post
– D’ Ars Magazine
– The Art of Leadership/ Series
– Disegno Industriale/ Industrial Design
– La Repubblica
– La Stampa
– D Magazine
– L’Espresso
– Corriere della Sera
– Il sole ventiquattro ore
– Il Venerdi’ di Repubblica
– Io Donna
– Vogue
– Marie Claire
– Glamour
– L’ Unita’
– Il Messaggero
– Il Manifesto
– Il Tempo
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2014. The photo Sea of Japan, from the “Mass Surveillance” series — was chosen to illustrate the cover of Sesto potere: La sorveglianza nella modernità liquida, the Laterza Editori edition of Zygmunt Bauman and David Lyon’s wonderful book, Liquid Surveillance: A Conversation, first published by Polity Press in 2000.
2013. Mass Surveillance, Senza Pericolo! Building and Safety, Triennale Design Museum
2012. Mass Surveillance, Jeune Creation, Paris, France
2012. D’ Ars Magazine, Milan, Italy
2012. Mass Surveillance, Fotografia Festival Internazionale di Roma, Postcart Editions
2012. Brooklyn Buzz, Fotoleggendo Festival, VIII edition, Rome, Italy
2012. Brooklyn Buzz, Reloveution, Foiano fotografia Festival, Arezzo, Italy
2012. Art of Leadership Series, The Magazine, New York, NY
2011. Cam Girls Met Ladies, Fotoleggendo Festival, VII edition, Rome, Italy
2011. Art of Leadership Series, The Magazine, New York, NY
2010. Dark Light Christmas, Galleria Don Chishiotte, Rome, Italy
2009. Light America, Galleria Borghese, Rome, Italy
2007. Arte Contemporanea, Electa Mondadori, Volume 9, Contaminazioni
2007. Disegno Industriale/ Industrial Design, Cover
2006. Global Entrepreneur, BRAVO Edition, China
MULTIMEDIA
LIGHT TV, Independent Reality TV Channel on Youtube
Light TV, Gaialight’s Independent Reality TV Channel on Youtube, started as a video experiment provocatively based on the idea of focusing on the “real” of everyday life in the contemporary city versus the hyperactivity of so-called reality television. This state of hyperactivity is actually dictated by a demographic that cleverly leverages experience based on a set of marketable traits that includes demonstrably outlandish behavior suitable for the absurdist theater of Beckett or Brecht. Competitive and prize-driven, instant celebrity is guaranteed alongside instant obloquy in these overblown versions of the Darwinian zoo we all nevertheless inhabit. “Light TV”, as a result, casually documents instances of urban serendipity that we all encounter in going about our daily routines, while also presenting equally absurd scenarios that are staged only insofar as human beings are incessantly performative creatures at heart. Part spectacle, part cinéma vérité, these very short documentary videos are also charismatic studies of human nature, or exemplary moments – some banal and some over the top – that are, in fact, the very basis for reality television. Since Calderon and Shakespeare, we know that life is often a dream and the world often a stage. What “Light TV” tells us is that the inherent theatricality of the world is also intensely lyrical and intricately baroque, by degrees, and that the “real” of the real world is so much more rewarding and interesting than the “real” of reality television.