The cows are stars in these portraits
At Patricia Low Contemporary, Mario Testino presented a Swiss selection, curated by Simon de Pury, from his ongoing project "A Beautiful World" – a series shaped by his desire for creative freedom after decades in fashion photography, where editors could still dictate what was “too colourful” or not “desaturated” enough.

The Gstaad edit centred on ceremonial animals and tradition: cows photographed with elaborate floral head decorations, a striking sheep, and a Zurich brotherhood in formal folk dress. Testino spoke with calm precision about noticing details he never expected, joking that his retouchers panicked when he started discussing the cows’ eyelashes, and about a question that stayed with him: do animals feel the ritual? Do decorated cows sense they are being paraded? For a brief moment, he even considered titling the show “Beauty Queens.”

A must-see for all who grew up with his beautiful images from the late 80s and 90s.
Runs until 14 February at Patricia Low Contemporary, Promenade 55, 3780 Gstaad.

Read more in the February issue of GstaadLife.

mariotestino.com
patricialow.com/exhibition/mario-testino/
https://www.instagram.com/simondepury