Open Theme 3rd place winner

A social phenomenon and collective ritual born around the 1930s, the beach is a recreational space that quickly transforms into a sort of free zone shared by people of all social classes, origins, and religions, a place where we display our bodies, our very human imperfections, stripped of roles and functions, granting ourselves a respite from social judgment.
The physical boundary separating the beach from the rest of the territory seems to mark a shift in common conventions.
On this stage, it's difficult to distinguish hierarchies and social statuses, which in everyday life we ​​identify through the possession and display of objects that symbolize them.
We recognize the street vendors, sometimes treated here with tolerant "vacation courtesy," wandering among the beach umbrellas with humble wares and difficult stories that no one wants to hear.
With this series of photographic/graphic collages, drawn from images of Italian beaches taken over approximately twenty years, I attempt to capture gestures and attitudes that recur in an almost codified and transversal way, a work of subtraction and selection to isolate situations that blend into the confusion. With irony, to recognize and smile at myself, too, because I am part of it.

For over 30 years, I have worked as a master craftsman photographer, specializing in photography applied to commerce and industry.
Professionally, my work spans architecture, jewelry, industrial monographs, portraiture, and textile photography.

Throughout this long period, alongside my professional activity, I have carefully nurtured reflections and personal projects to be expressed through images—works I was unable to realize due to the intense commitment required by my profession.

In recent years, a strong desire has emerged to develop the ideas I had accumulated, re-examining their meaning and compelling myself to carve out the necessary time to bring them to life and present them to the public.

Awards and Recognition:

1986 – Recognition for excellence in professional portrait photography at the Kodak European Gold Award.

2014 – Arte Laguna Prize, international competition aimed at promoting Contemporary Art; awarded an artist residency.

2015 – Combat Prize, a leading voice in the international art scene; selected artist.

2021 – Siena Awards, Highly Commended recognition.

Exhibitions:
Numm Contemporary Art Gallery, Casale Monferrato; Arte Fiera Genova (by Numm Art); Cefalù – Spazio Eventi Il Bastione; Startamsterdam Gallery, Amsterdam.