Facce da facebook

The project takes its cue from the famous Andy Warhol’s motto (“In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes “) and overturns it with: “in the future everyone will be world-famous for fifteen people” highlighting how much the idea of an ephemeral and self-celebrating celebrity exasperated from the social networks is part of our daily life.

Conte paints photos published on his profiles by some Facebook users on wrapping paper, creating poetic and sometimes disturbing portraits. Between 2009 and 2013 the project crossed Italy (Naples, Forlì, Milan, Roccagorga in the province of Latina and Pennadomo in the province of Chieti) enriching itself along the way with ever new portraits.

The project brought together the photos of the Facebook profiles of ordinary people, turning them into works of art and giving the subjects the aura of famous people, at least in the circle of the page that hosted the project. The page, on the other hand, served as an echo for the project itself, as users posted their photos in hopes of being chosen for the next portrait.