VENEZUELA CARACAS’ HIGH LIFE ©Alessandro Gandolfi Caracas (Venezuela), models posing for a photographer before a show at Fashion Show Delrayo In 2015 Caracas has been declared the “most dangerous town in the world”. The economy is in a slump, inflation is quite high and most people spend hours queueing in front of supermarkets hoping to buy, at controlled prices, milk, eggs, sugar and flour. Despite an enormous loan from China, fifteen years of bolivarianism and the sudden oil price drop pushed Venezuela quite near a social disaster.

But, especially in Caracas, somebody keep living a high life based on a US dollars-fueled parallel economy. It’s a high society frequenting exclusive clubs and restaurants, where a dinner may cost as the monthly wage of a state worker. This elite counts entrepreneurs, lawyers, private doctors, artists and the new riches coming from the governative area. They call these last ones the “boliburgueses”, Bolivarian bourgeois, sly people that, under the Chavez and Maduro regime, betrayed the socialist ideals and made big money. Caracas (Venezuela), Izcaragua Country Club, actor Augusto Nitti as patriot Antonio José de Sucre on the set of a movie by director Caupolicán Ovalles Caracas (Venezuela), fashion photographer Fran Beaufrand, 55 yo, posing in his living room Caracas (Venezuela), having a drink on Pestana hotel’s terrace Caracas (Venezuela), dr. Sonia Roffé operates on a patient of hers in her cosmetic clinic Caracas (Venezuela), bridesmaids during a photo shooting on the terrace of the Pestana hotel Caracas (Venezuela), parque La Estancia, dancing during a concert Caracas (Venezuela), playing golf on the Country Club green. In the background, buildings of the San Marino district Caracas (Venezuela), parliament members talking before a session of the Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela Caracas (Venezuela), Venezuelan singer Karina during a concert Caracas (Venezuela), a luxury car carrying some newly-weds on the street of the upper class district of La Lagunita Caracas (Venezuela), models at the end of a show at Fashion Show Delrayo Caracas (Venezuela), a waitress preparing some drinks at the Cayena luxury hotel Caracas (Venezuela), fans of Venezuelan singer Karina dancing during a concert Caracas (Venezuela), Carolina Figueredo in a room of Villa Planchart (also called El Cerrito). Carolina is the nephew of Armando Planchart, who commissioned the villa (built between 1953 and 1957) to the famous Italian architect Giò Ponti Caracas (Venezuela), Izcaragua Country Club, actresses Alexandra Scull (centre) and Rosalinda Serfaty on the set of a movie directed by Caupolicán Ovalles Caracas (Venezuela), favelas and new building blending in the South part of the city Caracas (Venezuela), Vip hotel, journalist Carlos Briceño prepares blogger Titina Penzini for a video interview during the introduction of the last collection of fashion designer Nabel Martins. Titina is Martins’ testimonial Caracas (Venezuela), visitors at the Espacio Monitor, a gallery inside the huge Centro de Arte Los Galpones Caracas (Venezuela), parque La Estancia, a dj on stage during a concert Caracas (Venezuela), consultant Diana Kaufmann in a room of her villa, “Casa Palmira”, in the upper class district of Los Palos Grandes Caracas (Venezuela), night overview of San Marino and Altamira districts Caracas (Venezuela), models preparing for a show at the Fashion Show Delrayo Caracas (Venezuela), Carolina Figueredo during a party at Villa Planchart (also called El Cerrito). Carolina is the nephew of Armando Planchart, who commissioned the villa (built between 1953 and 1957) to the famous Italian architect Giò Ponti PARALLELOZERO, VIA DONATELLO 19/A MILAN - [email protected] - WWW.PARALLELOZERO.COM - +39 02 89281630