MARIO TESTINO ON A BEAUTIFUL WORLD IN GSTAADLIFE

In its early 2026 issue, GstaadLife published a feature on Mario Testino in connection with the presentation of works from A Beautiful World at Patricia Low Contemporary. Written by Jeanette Wichmann, the article reflects on Testino’s transition from decades in fashion photography to a body of work dedicated to observing cultural traditions, ritual dress, and identity across the world.

The piece situates Testino’s recent Swiss photographs within the broader arc of A Beautiful World, a project he describes as emerging from a desire for creative independence after many years working within the editorial structures of fashion. Speaking during a public conversation at the gallery with Simon de Pury, who curated the exhibition, Testino explains that the project offered him the freedom to follow his own visual instincts rather than respond to the decisions of editors or clients.

The article highlights several images from the Swiss series, including portraits of decorated cows photographed in alpine settings. Rather than presenting them as picturesque local motifs, GstaadLife frames the photographs as formal portraits shaped by ceremony and cultural meaning. Their elaborate floral headpieces are described as functioning almost like dress, echoing the codes of fashion while belonging to a rural tradition of celebration and seasonal ritual.

Throughout the feature, Wichmann emphasises the way Testino approaches animals, communities and traditions with the same compositional seriousness he once brought to fashion portraiture. Even the smallest details become part of the photographic language. At one point, Testino recalls noticing the eyelashes of the cows while reviewing the images, a moment that reveals how carefully he studies each subject.

The article also reflects on Testino’s working method. Although the photographs often appear spontaneous, he explains that extensive research precedes each project and that he frequently stages situations outside their traditional festival dates in order to photograph them with greater control and attention. The aim is not simply to document an event but to examine the visual structure surrounding it.

Across the feature, GstaadLife presents A Beautiful World as a project rooted in observation rather than spectacle. Whether photographing ceremonial uniforms, decorated livestock or traditional gatherings, Testino’s images are described as careful studies of how communities express identity through dress, ritual and behaviour.