Danilo Zocatelli Cesco

About

Danilo Zocatelli Cesco is an Italian-Brazilian born artist who draws inspiration from a range of influences particularly people and their stories; objects of everyday life, performance, drag, and his queer identity. He is interested in the materiality of photo production and experimental photography, learning from trialling various techniques from cameraless photography to printing.

In 2023 he graduated with a First Class BA (Hons) Degree in photography studies from University of East London, since then, he has enjoyed notable credits. “Visible, Invisible” was shortlisted for display at ‘Art Number 23’ gallery in Athens, Greece, and his body of work “Drag Kings” was exhibited at ‘Show 22’ in Broadgate, London, “Vic” and “I Wish You Were Queer” exhibited at “Dimensional Beings”.

Following the completion of his Master’s degree at the Royal College of Art, he received awards for his work “Dear Father” including New Contemporaries, New Photography Prize, Travers Smith Art Programme 2024-2025, and Rapid Eye Darkrooms Award.

Dear Father subverts the representation of love between a father and son, and delves to create and explore acceptance through role reversal. While I painted his face, my father and I established a different understanding. He became the performer, while I, with my queerness, long hair, and piercings, became normalised. His exaggerated eyes, hair and makeup turned into a familiar reflection, and I no longer performed.

I photographed my father undertaking everyday tasks on the farm in Brazil with the aim of recapturing memories from my childhood. Familiar images of my father tending the farm, riding his motorcycle or slaughtering a sheep are enhanced by his willingness to do so in drag.

This project is designed with a direct address to those who misunderstand and label. ‘Golo’ (‘faggot’)  from family dialect is a term that taunted me yet now inspires me to create change. In Dear Father, I have escaped this colloquial tag through experimental and intimate exploration of a relationship between my father and me.

Dear Father has become a cherished microcosmic yet profound message that we are all capable of understanding much more than we realise. My father on a motorbike riding though his farm with the wind flowing through his bouffant hair is testament to that on so many levels.