Published: September 2020 (5 years ago) in issue Nº 374
Keywords: Passings, Milano, Italy, Documentary photographers, Photographers, Chandigarh and Arka
References: Piero Cefaloni
In memoriam - Giorgio Moliniari
Giorgio Moliniari
Giorgio Molinari peacefully left his body on Monday August 10 at the age of 83 in his Arka apartment, succumbing to heart problems that had been plaguing him for years.
Born in Milano, Giorgio was involved in photography from an early age onwards, while also developing interest in oriental philosophy. As a young man during military service he functioned as a ground assistant for aerial photography, after which he entered the world of advertisement agencies, freelancing for record companies, theatre productions, architectural designs, often working with big names in the field. In 1980 he made an architectural photo study of Chandigarh, from where he visited Auroville and the Matrimandir and the first true contact was made.
Then came the ‘Auroville 35 years’ festivity in UNESCO’s Paris centre in 2003, during which he learned more about Auroville and met several Aurovilians. His decision was made. Even though he was stricken with cerebral hemorrhage and right-side paralysis during the preparations to come here, he managed to fly in October 2004 to Auroville where he could convalesce in Arka. In December 2006 he became Aurovilian.
From the very onset Giorgio was generously involved in the upgrading of Arka’s infrastructure and lived there as well. From there he did extensive photo studies of Savitri Bhavan, Matrimandir, and we saw him time and again during our meetings, at special events, in schools and at village occasions, cautiously but persistently negotiating the spaces and making photos wherever he could, always freely giving them to Auroville. He would merrily make marriage photos of friends in the village, providing them with CDs of the footage, and the Eluciole Circus would not be the same without him. In his studio, Giorgio trained various students, and endeavoured to make Aurovilians familiar with his Chronotype technique.
Several years ago, Giorgio’s beloved sister Graziella, who often came over from Italy and stayed with him in Arka, passed away, and since then Giorgio wasn’t the same anymore. His health withered, and so did his humour and zest for life. He recently offered all his material and equipment to Auroville to constitute ‘Studio Giorgio’, currently temporarily housed in Citadines. The collection will now move to his Arka studio from where ‘Studio Giorgio’ can operate under the guidance of his closest collaborator, Piero Cefaloni.
Thank you for having been with us, dear Giorgio, we will remember you through your many exquisite photos and touching images, and for your warm hearted generosity and endearingly grinning smile.
Gorgio’s remains were cremated at the Auroville cremation and burial grounds in Adventure community on August 13thth. As per COVID-19 government instructions, only his closest friends could attend.
Giorgio’s self-portrait using his experimental ‘Chronotype’ technique
Dharmesh published this appreciation of Giorgio on Auronet, titled “The Joy of Giving”
One does not know how life unfolds for each of us; how we build some special connections with one another, through our work, life, occasional interactions or simply by someone’s presence at the right place, at the right time! One such connection I made was with Giorgio Molinari.
Giorgio Molinari, our omnipresent photographer, was a real community man, who immortalised several important events happening all around Auroville through his lens work; enhanced by his photography and his very special smiling, inspiring Presence. My first interaction with him was somewhere in the early years of our artistic journey at Kala Kendra. He was one of the rare artists who was encouraging, interacting with known, unknown, young, old, visiting and Aurovilian artists. Studying, capturing their work at opening events, photographing people, his favourite subject, especially youngsters who all loved him for his humour and ever welcoming nature.
We had found an in-house photographer and documentation expert, god-gifted, at all our events. He was just a message away. He never missed the opening of any exhibition at Kala Kendra; even when his health was frail, when he was unwell, he would make a special effort to visit the exhibition later, quietly, often encouraging artists by buying some of their work for his collection. His spirit of sharing, giving, was so generous and he shared his work freely with almost all. Auroville will be ever grateful for some amazing images he captured around Auroville of myriad events; happening in each and every corner of the town. He would usually come earlier and set up his frames, plan how he would work, seldom asking for any help or complaining about anything. He was an ever joyous, enthusiastic soul, full of life, living life in presence, at each moment.
Our special connection developed into a friendship slowly, when he got interested in travelling with us to Gujarat to explore further his love for India; especially the craft clusters, villages and towns, to explore various cultures in contemporary India, its changing life, its evolving life around. Finally, a few years ago, he managed to travel with Rakhee, to Khamir, an organisation which works in various crafts in Kutch, Gujarat. Rakhee was taking a workshop with women and potters of Kutch, exploring the traditional techniques, creating some contemporary products to help a livelihood project by Khamir. Giorgio made this workshop memorable by his presence and his interactions with craftsmen and women; studying crafts, documenting each one, cherishing the cuisine, travel, crafts and the culture of Kutch. His love grew further and he wanted to visit again with me, which was being planned but never could be realised due to his deteriorating health. I will forever regret it.
I will remember you, Giorgio, on every visit to Gujarat and Saurashtra with the many craft clusters we work with there and hope that we meet in the next life to explore our common interests, our love for India and its diverse culture of crafts, communities and cuisine! Thank you for being yourself, sharing your wonderful work with us all! For capturing the beauty that lies within the surface of Auroville, in its beautiful children, landscape, people. Thank you for showing us how life can be lived even amidst challenging circumstances, how a smile can win over any differences or disagreements; how one can merge with the life around if one truly is an artist, if one truly has an eye for beauty! How one can be artistic to the core, while being hooked on to technology. How this “fine blending of opposites” can be achieved in one’s life.
You made this experience of Auroville beautiful for me, for each of us whose lives you and your work touched upon. Seldom a soul passes on so peacefully, leaving behind so many memories. Thank you for all those known and unknown portraits you have captured! In Auroville will be ever grateful to you for bringing out that hidden gem of beauty in each one of us! For just being yourself!