The personal projects of young photographer Viviana Bonura (1999, Palermo) revolve mainly around portraiture, with a particular predilection for self-portraiture, as well as documentary photography permeated by intimate and personal tones. Often her shots are accompanied by short texts, but dense with intimacy. One of her most interesting projects in our opinion is Born from salt – exhibited in the upcoming edition of Liquida Photofestival in Turin from May 2 to 5 -, which explores the theme of self-construction and rebirth.

The project’s name comes from a dream where instead of wombs, human beings were born from some kind of matter that marks who we are. Therefore, I was born from salt. White as my skin, still and heavy. Salt is notoriously good for preserving things, but in some stories, it’s the protagonist of superstitious rites. It’s a sign of bad luck if thrown on the table by mistake, but it’s also a powerful purifier from negative energies. Salt drives monsters away.

Viviana Bonura

Through her innovative and introspective approach to photography, Viviana Bonura invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of identity, the narratives we construct, and the transformative power of self-expression. In her search for individuality, which nonetheless acknowledges the interference of external influences, both familial and cultural, Bonura’s work is transformed into a collective and social dimension, superimposing her own personal history on the political landscape through acts of self-determination. Born from salt serves as an in-depth investigation into the source of fractures, plunges into the abyss of inherited trauma, monstrosities and the connection between dream and reality.

Courtesy Viviana Bonura