Biography
Alejandro Chaskielberg was born in Buenos Aires in 1977.
He became Director of Photography in the National Film Institute (INCAA).
He worked as a photojournalist at newspapers and magazines, and in advertising photography as well.
Then he began to direct documentaries for television, particularly about visual artists.
In 2006 he decided to show his works and towards the end of the year he won the Curriculum Zero Prize in Ruth Benzacar Gallery.
He took part in collective exhibitions in places such as La Ira de Dios Art Space (Buenos Aires), Hermeth Gallery (Buenos Aires), Borges Cultural Center (Buenos Aires), Castagnino Museum (Rosario).
He made Individual exhibitions in Cruce de Artes Gallery and Ruth Benzacar Gallery (Buenos Aires).
Vision of art
1. Choose a work that represents you, describe it in relation to its format and materiality, its relation with time and space, its style and theme; detail its production process.
“Paraguayans” [Los Paraguayos] is a photograph I took in 2007, and is part of the "The Waxing" Series. It is a night take, illuminated by the full moon and a flashlight, which portrays a Paraguayan I met on the Delta islands.
I am interested in the picture, on one hand, because of the documentary base of work with the islanders, being the record of a given and everyday situation for that space, like this one axe worker loading a willow log. On the other hand, the take at night and the technical work change that naturalized perception of the documentary work, to give rise to the story and from there to the mystery, the timelessness or the nothing, depending on who sees it.
2. In general terms, how would you suggest to approach your work?
I don’t suggest anything.
3. In reference to your work and your position in the national and international art fields, what tradition do you recognize yourself in? Who are your contemporary referents? What artists of previous generations are of interest to you?
I am interested in the work of Gregory Crewdson, who works in the suburbs of USA. Also the light works by Lorca di Corcia and the colors of De Chirico. The characters of Balthus and the depletion of Lynch. I also like the fun side of Greenaway and the tempo in the films of Jarmusch.