This is not the first time we have talked about Giorgia Bellotti: some time ago we were fascinated by her shots, we got lost in her world of bare rooms, wallpapers, flowers and delicacy.

Grown-up surrounded by the beauty and landscapes offered by the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, Giorgia brings the atmosphere of those places and memories into her shots, shots that we look at accompanied by a female figure, always with her back to us, with her face concealed and only later we discover that she is the same Giorgia, author and protagonist of her photographs.

A selection of shots by Giorgia Bellotti will be exhibited at Ph.ocus – About Phorography in the “Please, Stay Home” section. Waiting to discover the new dates of the exhibition, we let Giorgia tell us how her passion was born, but not only.

Don’t miss our interview!

What is your first memory related to photography?

The first memory related to photography dates back to my childhood. When we were children, my sister and I used to celebrate our birthday at my grandmother’s house, and at the end of lunch, we always took a photo with a red Polaroid. Magical was the moment when the image was revealed on the black film. I still keep it, and I still keep all those photographs, they are a beautiful memory. 

Looking at your shots, especially those taken at home, you can feel an ethereal and surreal atmosphere at the same time. How do you prepare them?

I don’t actually prepare anything. They are all shots that take place in total spontaneity and naturalness, I simply let myself be inspired by what I find. In most cases they are rooms in flats where I fall down when I go on holiday, in other cases, they are abandoned houses, in others, they are rooms in my house.

Unknown rooms are a great stimulus for me; usually, I focus on a characteristic element in the house, for example, a lamp, a curtain, upholstery, a sofa, after which I play hide with it. In my intimate way of understanding self-portrait, it is the gesture, the attitude, the dialogue with the environment, the relationship with the absence, which perhaps makes communication effective.

How did the idea of self-portraits with a hidden face come about? What is it like to be both in front of and behind the lens?

It wasn’t a real idea, I simply wanted to express myself, in some way, and photography was the medium that allowed me to do so. The face has a powerful impact in photographs that leaves little room for the imagination, not showing it allows people to identify themselves in a situation and leave room for different interpretations, which is why I prefer it.

Photographing for me is a liberating act, it helps me to overcome fears, to feel and see myself. Probably photography is the words I can’t write, the confidence in myself that I can’t find, the confidence that I struggle to give people, the freedom that is awe outside. It is, above all, fun.

What role does nature and the environment play in your shots?

I would say fundamental. I like, wherever I am, to look for a connection. Whether it’s beautiful flowers in a well-kept garden or weeds on the side of a road, whether it’s an elegant place or a crumbling environment, I like to create empathy with spaces. I always keep an eye on everything that is usually considered insignificant, useless, which is not even seen because it is taken for granted. I like defects, broken objects, tangles, piles of things, empty dishes. My concept of beauty is very abstract. In nature, especially, I find the right glue to make my visions adhere to.

How did you experience the lockdown period?

I lived it well. Fortunately, ours wasn’t a very affected area, so I was quite serene. I am lucky enough to live in the same building with my sister and her family, and my mother. My son and I are not, therefore, ever alone. The photographs that were born in that period and that I am going to exhibit at Paratissima are, always from a personal representation point of view, quite carefree. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same now about this new phase, which unlike the first one, I am living with much more anxiety and apprehension.