For the last twenty years, Jean-Baptiste Mondino’s wildly progressive photographs and videos have radically changed the strategies of the rock, pop and fashion industry, making him one of the most influential, admired and sought-after photographers of our time. Yet before he found himself behind the lens, Mondino’s first passion was music, which he indulged while working as a DJ and composer. Despite his eventual change in path, music continues to be his favorite source for inspiration.
Jean-Baptiste Mondino was born in Aubervilliers, France in 1949, and currently resides in Paris. Today, his services are commissioned by the likes of Björk, Brian Ferry, Sting, David Bowie, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Tom Waits and Prince—as they are likewise by design gurus such as Philippe Starck or politicians such as Nelson Mandela, not to mention any number of art directors in the large ad agencies, editors-in-chief of numerous underground or glossy magazines and manufacturers of diverse brand-name articles such as Dior, Gautier, Nike and Calvin Klein. In addition to his photography, Mondino continues to be active with his film work for commercials and music videos.
Mondino has exhibited at public galleries internationally, including at the Maison Européene de la Photographie (MEP), Paris; Corkin Shopland Gallery, Toronto; 798 Space, Beijing; and Haus der Photographie/Deichtorhallen, Hamburg. Schirmer/Mosel has published three monographs of Mondino’s work: Guitar Eros (2006), Two Much (2005) and Déjà vu (1999).