Antoine d'Agata

We were honored to have Antoine d’Agata, a member of Magnum Photos and one of the most influential photographers of his generation, with us. His masterclass marked the beginning of the collaboration between the MA of Arts in Photography and Magnum Photos, the world’s leading photojournalism agency. During the second semester of the master’s program, Antoine d’Agata was responsible for the “Collaborative Social Challenge Project” module, mentoring students in the field of documentary photography. This module culminated in an exhibition in September 2024.

Darkness, pain, and empathy have defined Antoine d’Agata’s work. The presentation of his projects on the giant screen at LABA VALENCIA struck us all profoundly, especially with the relentless rhythm of his film, where figures and faces become endless sequences of lives—many of them already gone. Just as the unceasing rhythm of his cinematic presentation unfolds, so does death take its place in their lives. Sex, heroin, and people battered by life, living on the edge due to the circumstances they were born into. Antoine d’Agata moves at this frenetic pace, always carrying his camera to capture everything, venturing into spaces few dare to enter. Naked, with only his camera—a camera that does not reinterpret, embellish, or soften reality. A camera in the hands of a photographer who can only be one more within the scene.

The emotion in front of the giant screen was so overwhelming that at times, all you wanted to do was cry. Not out of sadness, but because of the intensity of life at the edge of existence. Antoine d’Agata may reference Francis Bacon, but his figures cry out to Francisco de Goya.

A photographer and filmmaker with a distinctive style—his exploration of social themes, his influence on contemporary photography, his commitment to experimentation, and his international recognition. In 2004, D’Agata joined Magnum Photos, and in that same year, he directed his first short film, Le Ventre du Monde (The Belly of the World). This experimental piece led to his 2006 feature film, Aka Ana, shot in Tokyo. His work has been widely recognized and valued within the international photography community.

One of his most influential projects is “Anticorps”, a photo series documenting nightlife in cities like Paris, Tokyo, and New York, focusing on themes of sex, drugs, and social alienation. This series stands out for its raw and provocative photographic style and has been widely acclaimed for its impact on contemporary photography.