Ari Marcopoulos is a greek origin photographer, born and raised in Haarlem, moved to NYC when 18 years old. Ari is now, after more that 30 years in the industry, one of the greatest influencers and one of the most important characters of contemporary photography.
A friend of mine introduced me to Ari and I still remember the first time we were sitting on a table together. He was telling us some stories when he was younger quoting Jean Michael Basquiat.
Can you remember when you were children and someone was telling a fairytale? Staring with your mouth opened thinking that those words were unreal. This is the feeling that Ari will leave you if you’re going to meet him someday.
With the only exception that his words are real.
He was so kind to answer a couple of questions even if busy between his busy schedule, telling us something about him, his thoughts about photography and about his up and coming book, Directory. A twelve hundred pages volume by Rizzoli scheduled for April.
Buy it!

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Portrait by Camilla Venturini

Michela Biasibetti) Hi Ari, how was Paris?

Ari Marcopoulos) Paris is always nice, so it was good again this time. I found an amazing copyshop and got right to work making 2 zines.

MB) First of all could you please tell us something about you, like where you come from and why, when you were 18 y.o., you decided to move to NY?

AM) I am from The Netherlands, grew up in a town called Haarlem, moved to New York just for a change, it really was only gonna be for 6 months or so but as it turned out i still live there.

MB) NY gave you the opportunity to start your own professional path getting in touch with Andy Warhol. Did you move with the intention of getting in the NY artistic and social circle or it did just happened?

AM) I had no idea what to expect, all I knew was that I had to find work in order to survive. So I was lucky with some of the jobs I had. I am not sure that I knew there was and artistic social circle. Just wanted to work and make some friends.

MB) Is there any specific moment or event that made you realize that photography was the way to express yourself?

AM) I am not sure, I think that cameras fascinated me and I think that probably seeing the Nam Jun Paik exhibition at the Stedelijk Musuem in Amsterdam made me realize that you can do a lot with a camera.

MB) You’re not the kind of photographer with a camera in his hands 24/7 shooting everything, so how do you feel when you have your camera in your hands?

AM) I feel insecure and vulnerable but also excited at times. The camera is pretty much part of me so it also feels natural at the same time.

MB) What do you think about contemporary photography in this moment? Looks like you just need a good camera (or an iPhone or Blackberry) and you’re a Photographer. Everybody is taking pictures right now.

AM) More photos doesn’t mean better photos. I mean I see good stuff out there but I have always seen good stuff. There is just a lot more now and a lot is made out of photos on the internet.
But there is still a huge difference between seeing something on your computer and seeing a print on the wall or in a book.
I think a lot of things look alike these days.