I’ve always felt like a fish out of water in my hometown, my country, Italy, and even in my own womanhood. A constant sense of inadequacy weighed on me, fuelled by the suffocating taboos, stereotypes, and machismo that defined the culture I grew up in. For years, I distanced myself from my roots in search of my identity. I traveled during my studies and eventually spent a decade in Amsterdam, immersed in a world of muted light and overcast skies, far removed from the bright sun and vivid colors of my Mediterranean childhood.
In 2023, feeling an urgent need to reconnect with the sun, I left my full-time job and embarked on a year-long sabbatical. I lived first in a tent, then in a van, immersing myself in nature. Over 408 days, I found two essential things: time and sunlight. From this combination, Tempo Bello was born. The phrase, meaning Good Weather, is commonly used in Italy and reminded me of how deeply the weather shapes who we are.
By chasing the sun, I inadvertently rediscovered my roots. I now see my roots not as tied to a specific location but as an accumulation of experiences, shaped by my family, society, landscapes, and people. Fragmented memories include the childhood joy of seeing spring flowers bloom, the discomfort of being objectified by men’s stares, and the peace I find in nature, where my father often sought solace during my upbringing. They also carry the weight of growing up as a woman in a culture that glorified manhood and devalued women, fuelling my desire to break free from small-minded taboos and embrace a life of freedom.
Reuniting with sunlight not only illuminated my path to self-awareness but also became the essence of my creativity, without sunlight and blue skies, there would be no photographs. What began as pure visual expression evolved into a deeply therapeutic process, uncovering a personal narrative that had been waiting to emerge.
The sun sparked vivid memories, reminding me of who I was and where I came from. Each image held layers of meaning, some immediately apparent, others slowly unfolding behind the curtains of my emotions.
