Exhibits & Bio
THE LEGENDARY CLASS J
Photographs by Franco Pace
Trieste, San Giusto Castle
From 2 to 30 October 2017
Analog and multimedia exhibition dedicated to the J-Class, the revolutionary yachts from the 1930s that were used in the challenges for the America’s Cup. The exhibition, curated by the Fratelli Alinari Foundation, presented the J-Class in Franco Pace’s images, reproduced in giant enlargements and accompanied by audio, video or even “visited” through multimedia stations, digital scenography and interactive programs.
SCENARI
Photographs by Franco Pace
Cannes Old town, outdoors
From September 22nd to October 4th 2006
The exhibition, promoted by the Municipality of Cannes and focused on the theme of Classic Boats, was the setting for the prestigious gathering, which every September, attracts the most beautiful classic yachts in the world in the Bay of Cannes.
Born in Tunis in 1942 and settled in Trieste, Italy, at the age of one. Since then, Trieste has been my hometown, here I carried out my studies, cultivated my passions for drawing and painting.
At university, I majored in Natural Science and, to prepare my thesis, I had to reproduce the results of my research done at the microscope. So in a short time I deepened my knowledge of photography, especially cameras, film development and printing techniques.
I immediately realized the great potential photography could offer. In 1/1000 of a second it was possible to capture on film the special atmosphere of a moment and then share it with other people thanks to the universal language of images.
After completing my studies, I focused my attention, and my camera, on sailing and the environment of the sea, which had always fascinated me. For the next ten years, I cultivated photography as a hobby while working as a teacher in high school. Then fate passed by me and I decided that I could take up the profession of photographer specializing in the field of sailing.
I started following international regattas and making my work known by exhibiting at boat shows in various countries. Over the years, I have traveled across the seas and around the world, always trying to capture interesting sailing subjects and scenarios.
Through my travels I often had the opportunity to witness and document exceptional situations, such as the terrible storm at the Fastnet regatta in 1979. Or a sailing trip to Patagonia and to the South Pole in 1980, when the nautical charts of those areas were not precise at all. Or again on December 26th 2004 in Thailand, when I found myself swimming in the Tsunami wave!
I followed with particular attention the birth and growth of rallies for classic wooden boats, which had always greatly fascinated me. I also documented the evolution of the racing boats and the extreme technology of the America’s Cup hulls, and at the same time also the large Tall Ships and the traditional work boats. In short, my agenda was always full of engagements.
After a couple of years I understood that to cope with all these trips, collaboration with magazines was not enough, I also had to find other resources. I decided to be my own publisher and, using my own images of sailing, I started producing calendars and later also several books.
I have exhibited my images on many occasions, in different countries. Including, in 1985 in Paris at the George Pompidou Center, as part of the Le Bateau Blanc exhibition. In 2006 in Cannes, outdoors, suspended in the alleys of the historic center. In 2009 in Trieste at the Salone degli Incanti, the former Central Fish Market, now a spectacular space for Modern Art exhibitions. In 2017, in Trieste at the San Giusto Castle, by the Fratelli Alinari Foundation.
Over time I have collected a substantial photographic archive.
Recently my friend Frans Heesen, builder of large yachts, asked me how many photos I had taken over the years and how I managed to get them sharp. I explained that, if the light allows it, you have to use a very fast shutter speed, at least 1/1000 of a second.
As for the number of photos, I hadn’t counted them and I could only conjecture, maybe 5,000,000? He thought about it a bit, then with his typically Dutch humor: “But then you … in your whole life, you worked more or less.. an hour and a half!”
Sincerely yours
Franco Pace
THE SAILS OF FRANCO PACE
Photographs by Franco Pace
Trieste, Salone degli Incanti
From September 12th to October 18th 2009
The exhibition, promoted by the Department of Culture of the Municipality of Trieste, featured 82 large-size images selected from the Franco Pace archive. In an empty space of 2000 square meters the images were inserted in a spectacular scenario of large white sails hoisted up to the ceiling, inside the fine building of the early 1900s.
ADMIRAL’S 1979
Franco Pace documentary
Trieste, Revoltella Museum
11 October 2019
In 1979 Franco Pace was a direct witness of the terrible storm that devastated the Fastnet regatta, the last race of the Admiral’s Cup. On the night of August 13, off the Irish coast, 19 hulls were abandoned, 5 sank and 18 people lost their lives. Made on 16 mm film, on the occasion of the 1979 Admiral’s Cup, the original film (lasting 30 minutes) was restored and reproduced in digital format.
LE BATEAU BLANC
Multivision by Franco Pace
Paris, Center Georges Pompidou
October 1985 – January 1986
As part of the “Le Bateau Blanc” exhibition, the “Le Signe du Vent” multivision on a large screen, rear-projection, featured 700 slides with 15 fading projectors. The images accompanied by sound effects, described the charm and magic that sailing boats arouse on all the seas of the world.
Exhibits & Bio
Born in Tunis in 1942 and settled in Trieste, Italy, at the age of one. Since then, Trieste has been my hometown, here I carried out my studies, cultivated my passions for drawing and painting.
At university, I majored in Natural Science and, to prepare my thesis, I had to reproduce the results of my research done at the microscope. So in a short time I deepened my knowledge of photography, especially cameras, film development and printing techniques.
LE BATEAU BLANC
Multivision by Franco Pace
Paris, Center Georges Pompidou
October 1985 – January 1986
Nell’ambito della Mostra Le Bateau Blanc, la multivisione “Le Signe du Vent” su maxi schermo in retroproiezione, proponeva 700 diapositive con 15 proiettori in dissolvenza. Le immagini accompagnate da effetti sonori, descrivevano il fascino e la magia che le barche a vela suscitano su tutti i mari del mondo.
I immediately realized the great potential photography could offer. In 1/1000 of a second it was possible to capture on film the special atmosphere of a moment and then share it with other people thanks to the universal language of images.
After completing my studies, I focused my attention, and my camera, on sailing and the environment of the sea, which had always fascinated me. For the next ten years, I cultivated photography as a hobby while working as a teacher in high school. Then fate passed by me and I decided that I could take up the profession of photographer specializing in the field of sailing.
THE SAILS OF FRANCO PACE
Photographs by Franco Pace
Trieste, Salone degli Incanti
From September 12th to October 18th 2009
The exhibition, promoted by the Department of Culture of the Municipality of Trieste, featured 82 large-size images selected from the Franco Pace archive. In an empty space of 2000 square meters the images were inserted in a spectacular scenario of large white sails hoisted up to the ceiling, inside the fine building of the early 1900s.
I started following international regattas and making my work known by exhibiting at boat shows in various countries. Over the years, I have traveled across the seas and around the world, always trying to capture interesting sailing subjects and scenarios.
Through my travels I often had the opportunity to witness and document exceptional situations, such as the terrible storm at the Fastnet regatta in 1979. Or a sailing trip to Patagonia and to the South Pole in 1980, when the nautical charts of those areas were not precise at all. Or again on December 26th 2004 in Thailand, when I found myself swimming in the Tsunami wave!
THE LEGENDARY CLASS J
Photographs by Franco Pace
Trieste, San Giusto Castle
From 2 to 30 October 2017
Analog and multimedia exhibition dedicated to the J-Class, the revolutionary yachts from the 1930s that were used in the challenges for the America’s Cup. The exhibition, curated by the Fratelli Alinari Foundation, presented the J-Class in Franco Pace’s images, reproduced in giant enlargements and accompanied by audio, video or even “visited” through multimedia stations, digital scenography and interactive programs.
I followed with particular attention the birth and growth of rallies for classic wooden boats, which had always greatly fascinated me. I also documented the evolution of the racing boats and the extreme technology of the America’s Cup hulls, and at the same time also the large Tall Ships and the traditional work boats. In short, my agenda was always full of engagements.
After a couple of years I understood that to cope with all these trips, collaboration with magazines was not enough, I also had to find other resources. I decided to be my own publisher and, using my own images of sailing, I started producing calendars and later also several books.
ADMIRAL’S 1979
Franco Pace documentary
Trieste, Revoltella Museum
11 October 2019
In 1979 Franco Pace was a direct witness of the terrible storm that devastated the Fastnet regatta, the last race of the Admiral’s Cup. On the night of August 13, off the Irish coast, 19 hulls were abandoned, 5 sank and 18 people lost their lives. Made on 16 mm film, on the occasion of the 1979 Admiral’s Cup, the original film (lasting 30 minutes) was restored and reproduced in digital format.
I have exhibited my images on many occasions, in different countries. Including, in 1985 in Paris at the George Pompidou Center, as part of the Le Bateau Blanc exhibition. In 2006 in Cannes, outdoors, suspended in the alleys of the historic center. In 2009 in Trieste at the Salone degli Incanti, the former Central Fish Market, now a spectacular space for Modern Art exhibitions. In 2017, in Trieste at the San Giusto Castle, by the Fratelli Alinari Foundation.
SCENARI
Photographs by Franco Pace
Cannes Old town, outdoors
From September 22nd to October 4th 2006
The exhibition, promoted by the Municipality of Cannes and focused on the theme of Classic Boats, was the setting for the prestigious gathering, which every September, attracts the most beautiful classic yachts in the world in the Bay of Cannes.
Over time I have collected a substantial photographic archive.
Recently my friend Frans Heesen, builder of large yachts, asked me how many photos I had taken over the years and how I managed to get them sharp. I explained that, if the light allows it, you have to use a very fast shutter speed, at least 1/1000 of a second.
As for the number of photos, I hadn’t counted them and I could only conjecture, maybe 5,000,000? He thought about it a bit, then with his typically Dutch humor: “But then you … in your whole life, you worked more or less.. an hour and a half!”
Sincerely yours
Franco Pace
