A photographic project inspired by the idea of rebirth in a city that carries its legacy, Florence.
The photos depict transformation of inorganic (sur)faces through organic activity and emerging abstract forms, structures and colours. Nevertheless, the subjects embody a strong sense of humanity, (re-)creation and intimacy. As if belonging to a past civilisation these reclaimed sculptures remind us of our transient existence, forever subordinate to the dynamics of nature. Is it the absence of human interference that allows beauty to emerge? With these pictures I question the valorisation of preserving the initial state of human creations, often prohibiting their transformation.
The project is inspired by the idea of rebirth applied to a city that is shaped during the Renaissance. Florence, once a beacon of innovation and creativity, has mostly become a jewel of the past in the 21st century. A desire to preserve the wealth of a centuries-old heritage, powered by a profitable tourist industry, ironically seems to disallow any further transformation. Only in the margins, where the cosmetics of preservation have lost sense, evolution occurs. The sculptures, transformed and reclaimed by nature, can be found on two historical burial grounds on the outskirts of the city: Il Cimitero Di Trespiano and Il Cimitero Delle Porte Sante.
Cemeteries are perfect examples of a human desire for commemorating and preserving. Cemeteries also symbolise the transience of materiality and the passing of time and relevance. Left-alone monuments representing forgotten souls serve as time capsules to remind us of a past in which death was commonly cultivated. Over time, these artistic creations have lost their initial purpose as a remembrance for loved ones; instead they transformed into anachronistic abstractions of an artist and his subject. Vivid biotopes of colourful lichens applied a new aesthetic to the stone-cold (sur)faces. The sculptured skin is brought back to life.
