The relation between what we see and what we know is never settled. Attilio Tripodi speaks to GANITA about the ways of perceiving loneliness
The black and white photos of the series speak about the temporary nature of solitude. The images may suggest a hint of melancholia but are never sad. Instead, all the pictures are united by a feeling of vitality. The minimal preferred shots, with very few elements, accentuate the look of introspection. Atilio Tripodi prefers to portray human landscapes in his photos, which, in this case, are the unsuspecting protagonists of this reflection on loneliness.
“We are never alone, even when this condition seems so unequivocally clear. Man is a social being, inevitably interacts with others and establish relationships with others, exchanging emotions and feelings. Because of a higher spiritual law, we are all connected to each other, we are one. So, I figured that the protagonists of my shots intentionally seek temporary solitude, necessary to create a deep contact with the most authentic and intimate part of themselves, with their essence, their soul. I imagined, then, that my subject had tried that particular insulation to talk to himself, in a kind of meditation,” says the Italian photographer.
Usually his photo collections always express a very lively range of colours but for Temporary Solitudes he preferred to use black and white. “Photographing isolated subjects, immersed in a variety of contexts, is one of my photographic prerogatives. I like to be a spectator of everyday human reads in the architecture of life, always with acute curiosity but with the utmost respect for the sacredness of life. This fact allowed me to meditate on people’s loneliness and the great opportunities that we can offer. In solitude, immersed in our deepest thoughts, we face our existential questions, we set ourselves on the path of evolution,” says the artist.
Attilio believes that an artist should always listen to his innermost self. Soul is the crucible where thoughts take shape. He suggests, “It is then very important for anyone involved in the visual arts, such as photography, to try to look at the work of others. An artist should look for inspiration in everything. He/she should always carry with him a wealth of curiosity.” Attilio is always looking for situations, faces and shots that excite him, hoping to then transfer to those who look at his pictures the same intense emotion.
A freelance art director for advertising, graphic design, publishing and packaging in Italy, photography is Attilio’s passion. He has been at it for 30 years and still it fascinates him to observe the world through the lens, typeset emotions and tell stories in a single frame. His work as a graphic designer inevitably affects his approach. lines, contrasts, textures and shapes are often present in his pictures and interact with the subject. He thinks the most important ingredient in photography is emotion. “The formal balance of an image, the harmony that can be transmitted, the right exposure... all will fall flat if we lose out on the most important ingredient which is emotion.”
(The exhibition is on at IIC)