Mulas

Ugo (1928-1973). Born in Pozzolengo near Brescia, Italy. He died in Milan where he had lived and worked. He was one of the icons of Italian post-war photography. He was a man blessed with a strong classical education, and high and humane intelligence. He began to take photographs while he was still a law student, but soon abandoned his studies in favor of a course at the Accademia di Belle Arti. He spent much time around the Brera area, and at the Bar Giamaica, above which he rented a room with his friend Mario Dondero, who would later become a well-known reporter in Paris. Mulas’ first photographic report covered the 1954 Venice Biennale (he would continue to report on it until 1972). His interest in art, important to him not least because it led to his friendships with the likes of Lucio Fontana and Alberto Giacometti, was equalled by his interest in reportage, photographing the suburbs and rebuilt areas of post-war Milan in an expressive black-and-white. In his studio, he worked on advertising, documentaries and also in the theater, working with Giorgio Strehler and Piccolo on various shows, the most symbolic of which was, in 1964, Brecht’s La vita di Galileo. He traveled memorably to Russia and around Europe for L’Illustrazione Italiana, Settimo Giorno, Rivista Pirelli, and also for New York publications, between 1964 and 1967, where he came into contact with soon-to-be famous artists such as Andy Warhol, Frank Stella, Christo, and Robert Rauschemberg. Everybody was struck by the intuitive capability which allowed Mulas to photograph the works of these artists in a way that conveyed their spirit. He brought the same manner to the world of fashion. His first job was with Mila Schön, who was enchanted by Mulas’ ability to interpret her designs with a creativity combined with very careful composition. Mulas, whose work was published in Vogue and Novità (working for Krizia, Valentino, Biki, Tricò, Forquet, and La Rinascente) often made artistic references in his work, placing models and clothes among the sculptures of Moore and Cascella, or using jewelry designed by Arnaldo Pomodoro or Jean Cocteau, in addition to work with artists and designers, such as Mila Schön and Lucio Fontana. In the last two years of his life, he dedicated himself to the creation of Verifiche, a conceptual work focusing on the language and the essence of photography.