Luciano Ratto is a photographer in the Seattle area. He recently published a book of photos, “Taste the Floor,” which documents the Seattle DIY music scene. Ratto’s work will be featured at Bumbershoot this year in IF YOU KNOW YOU KNOW, a group photography exhibit at the festival.
Seattle Refined: How long have you been creating? What mediums do you work with?
Ratto: I’ve been creating and photographing for around eight years but started to take it seriously around five years ago when I was 21 years old. My main practice is photography, but I also dabble in clothing and design here and there.
Can you tell us about your artistic process and how the different stages work into it?
My practice revolves around investigation. Being an inner investigator of myself, trying to understand what I want to say and do as an artist (as presented in “The Nightmare of Reason” and “Conversations with Ghosts”). Or external investigations such as subculture explorations (as presented in “Taste the Floor” and “Aftertaste”).
I’m a project-based artist, so the process usually starts with me trying to figure out what is the next project (usually comes quite naturally, and I have a project in my hands without even thinking about it). After I have a vague idea of what I want to say and what is it about, I think about the name of it and a sound that represents the aesthetic I want to create. Music is extremely important in my process, and every project contains a very specific song that was used as the “aesthetic blueprint.”
After setting the framework for the project, I then stack photos for a certain period that I usually set myself beforehand. It can vary depending on the project, it could be one month to two years of piling photos.
By setting an aesthetic blueprint early on in the project conception, the rest will be just following the set frame.
Tell us about where your inspiration for your art comes from.
My art inspiration is the forever stubbornness of myself to believe my practice will answer questions about who I am and why I am who I am. My inspiration is the answer to my question, lingering around the corner of my negative.
Do you have a specific “beat” you like best – nature, food, profiles, etc.?
One of the biggest reasons I moved to the PNW was nature. Mother Nature is the final designer and we will always learn by observing it.
Do you have one piece of art that means more to you or is extremely special to you?
Diane Arbus’ “Mom Holding Crying Child, New Jersey,” 1967, is probably my favorite photograph. I have a ripped page from one of her books with this photo on top of my mirror, and every day before walking out, I stare at the child. It always reminds me of the true potency of a photo.
What experiences in your life have affected your art the most?
Grief.
If we want to see more of your work, where should we go to find it?
Currently only presently online on Instagram (@luciano_ratto) but you can also check some of my work in the Bumbershoot Festival at IYKYK gallery.
What is next for you? Anything you’re working on right now that you’re really excited about?
I’m currently working on a follow-up book to “Taste the Floor” (TTF is a self-published zine documenting the Seattle underground music scene) and currently selecting the prints to be presented in a gallery show at Bumbershoot! The show is called IYKYK, it will feature different pockets of underground music cultures all around the PNW from bluegrass to crust punk! It should be a blast and a really interesting window to look at!
Lastly, how do you take your coffee? (We ask everyone!)
16 oz. three-shot caramel latte.
About ‘Artist of the Week’: This city is packed with artists we love to feature weekly on Seattle Refined! If you have a local artist in mind that you would like to see featured, let us know at hello@seattlerefined.com. And if you’re wondering just what constitutes art, that’s the beauty of it; it’s up to you! See all of our past Artists of the Week in our dedicated section.
