Monty Shadow Foundation | Ayrton Senna in the photographs of Monty Shadow National Automobile Museum of Italy

10 Nov Ayrton Senna in the photographs of Monty Shadow National Automobile Museum of Italy

Posted at 12:35h in exhibition, senna by Monty Shadow Foundation

Turin National Automobile Museum – Talk “Ayrton Senna in the photographs of Monty Shadow”

Moderated by journalist Andrea Pavan

In the occasion of the finissage of the Ayrton Senna Forever exhibition at the National Automobile Museum of Turin, a “Talk” themed “Ayrton Senna in the photographs of Monty Shadow” was held moderated by Andrea Pavan, journalist, and the architect Enrico Leonardo Fagone, curator of the Monty Shadow Foundation exhibition, already presented exclusively in Formula 1 in the paddocks of the Imola Grand Prix and the 2024 Monza Grand Prix.

On an afternoon in which the Brazilian race was celebrated, in memory of Ayrton Senna, in the presence of a passionate audience, who filled the hall of the National Automobile Museum, on the occasion of the closing of the Ayton Senna Forever exhibition which having gathered around 270 thousand visitors from 98 nations, a talk was opened dedicated to the images of Ayrton created by his great friend Monty Shadow.

The photographic exhibition “My Friend Ayrton” is the portrait of Senna through a series of unpublished images that offer an exclusive look that reveals the man behind the myth, and tell the story of the deep friendship with Ayrton Senna and a relationship that allowed Monty to capture new aspects of the champion’s life, beyond the races, revealing his most authentic and personal nature.

16 images of the shots that Monty loved most among those he had taken of his friend and which more than anything reveal the Ayrton Senna that Monty felt was most personal and intimate, which tell the story of the friend he had known and who they show the looks and expressions of a man who has become a legend.

Monty has collected an Ayrton Senna as one might do in a family album: moments of life, between irony and fun but also captured in the moments of greatest tension before a race for example or while waiting to get back on board one’s car after being was developed by the mechanics.

Different moments, never caught secretly, never stolen and for this reason more natural than ever. Hence the idea of proposing an exhibition that can host a selection of these images, evidence of a bond, first of all but also of the sensitivity that young Ayrton shared with young Monty.

An introspective look beyond the news of the 1980s that formed the backdrop, to learn more about and remember one of the most loved sportsmen of all time. Another Senna therefore, new and even more engaging.

The intimacy and naturalness of these moments reflect the authentic friendship between Monty and Senna, revealing a side of the driver never seen before.

“2hours.14minutes.08seconds”

In the docufilm “Senna” visible on Netflix, Monty is seen on the Imola track on the day of the tragedy (from the minute 2.13.58 until the following second 2.14.08) in the last shot of the filming from the helicopter on Senna’s car on the track before departure:

“Monty passes behind the rear wing of the Williams and goes to give what will be his last farewell to his friend, before his tragic end.”

Monty Shadow was a great photographer who crossed, with his creative vision, the world of fashion, sport, automotive, publishing, art and luxury to create unimaginable highly successful synergies.

He was a unique character in the world of the 80s, 90s and 2000s, which saw him as the protagonist, behind different large projects and of which only experts know the value.

He has shot from show business to entertainment, such as Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steven Seagal, Michael Douglas, Kevin Costner, Richard Gere, Sean Connery, Jessiga Lange, Julia Roberts, Madonna, Sharon Stone, Kim Basinger, Sandra Bullock, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Jackson, George Michael, Elton John, Whitney Houston, Luciano Pavarotti, Eros Ramazzotti, and many other stars of the old and new era.

He collaborated to create the winning image of F1, together with his friend Bernie Ecclestone, and his photographic lens celebrated the greatest champions such as Ayrton Senna, Michael Jordan, Alberto Tomba, Sergey Bubka Boris Becker, David Coulthard, Jacques Villeneuve, Sergey Bubka, Tiger Woods etc…

From the world of entertainment to the ateliers of prestigious designers such as Armani, Versace, Stefano Ricci, Alaia, etc., his name was the key to opening any door in the field of fashion where he shared an esteem and a great friendship with Franca Sozzani director of Vogue Italia.