biography
I live in Palermo, I was 12 years old when I first got hold of a camera. I was fascinated by this little metallic box that could stop time and confine images, in paper, forever. And so, unaccompanied, I entered “the magic eye” of the camera and the mysterious world of the darkroom; a world which is only lit up by a dim red light in the distance. I began by taking pictures of my family and narrating the tale of others in which world so different from mine, I could yet see parts of me.
Several years later I started taking self-timer portraits. I found the inner exploration process through the language of images increasingly fascinating, I was capturing my emotions; at the same time I continued to carry out sociological researches related to culture and gender stereotypes.
During my work as a social worker I understood that communicating with images worked in an immediate and efficient manner in the rehabilitation process of fragile individuals such as: drug users, psychiatric patients, and young people at risk or victims of gender-based violence. With this in mind, I integrated photography in the psychotherapeutic program of the patients, offering them a tool that could facilitate the process of revisiting and rewriting their personal story.
Though this complex professional endeavour has slowed somewhat my personal projects, it is also true that the long pauses have helped me to better understand the changes taking place inside me; changes which consequently have been reflected in my photographic production.
I have now returned to my projects with keenness and strength. I can see clearly the way photography uncovers and hones my inner vision which changes as I change; evolve as I evolve, both as photographer and as human being. I try to remember the power an image has to evoke emotions, bring change and inspire us to live our life differently; this is what keeps me grounded and honest with myself. Finding and trying to express my inner vision to the outer world is “The Journey” I embark on with every click of the camera.