PHOBIA / CONCEPTUAL PHOTO PROJECT
project overview
PHOBIA IS A PERSONAL EDITORIAL SERIES EXPLORING HOW FEAR DISTORTS THE BODY, PERCEPTION, AND REALITY. SHOT AND STYLED BY ME FROM CONCEPT TO FINAL IMAGE, THE PROJECT MERGES FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL PORTRAITURE, USING PHYSICAL OBJECTS, REFLECTIONS, DISTORTIONS AND STAGED “CONSTRAINTS” TO MATERIALIZE DIFFERENT PHOBIAS — FROM CLAUSTROPHOBIA TO TECHNOPHOBIA. THE WORK WAS PUBLISHED AS A FULL EDITORIAL IN ALICE MAGAZINE (NEW YORK), FEATURED IN ENVIE AND SELECTED IMAGES ENTERED THE VOGUE ITALIA PHOTO SUBMISSIONS. THIS IS ONE OF MY MOST PERSONAL PROJECTS — A STUDY OF FEAR AS SOMETHING INTIMATE, VISUAL, AND STRANGELY POETIC.
Concept & Execution
AT ITS CORE, PHOBIA INVESTIGATES HOW FEAR BENDS THE WORLD AROUND A PERSON — SHRINKING SPACE, WARPING SHAPE, REPEATING THOUGHTS, BLURRING SENSES. I WANTED TO SHOW NOT “FEAR” ITSELF, BUT THE INTERNAL LANDSCAPES IT CREATES. EACH PHOBIA BECOMES A SMALL CHAMBER OF PERCEPTION: MIRRORS, WATER, PHONES, FABRIC COCOONS, SPIRALS. THE VISUAL LANGUAGE COMES FROM RENAISSANCE SOFTNESS MIXED WITH UNSETTLING SURREALISM, CREATING PORTRAITS THAT LOOK CALM AT FIRST GLANCE BUT FRACTURE ON CLOSER INSPECTION.
THIS PROJECT IS FULLY HANDCRAFTED: THE ENTIRE CONCEPT, VISUAL DIRECTION, STYLING, COLOR LOGIC AND SYMBOLISM. ALL SETS AND PROPS WERE DESIGNED AND BUILT BY ME. THE SERIES WAS CONSTRUCTED AS A “VISUAL DICTIONARY” OF PHOBIAS — EACH CHAPTER PRESENTING A DIFFERENT FEAR THROUGH A UNIQUE PHOTOGRAPHIC METAPHOR. THE EDITORIAL SEQUENCE WAS INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED FOR PRINT.
ALTHOUGH THE TOPIC IS HEAVY, THE AESTHETIC IS INTENTIONALLY LYRICAL — FEAR HERE IS NOT A SCREAM BUT A WHISPER; A MOMENT OF STILLNESS WHERE THE VIEWER RECOGNIZES THEMSELVES.
Conclusion
PHOBIA BECAME MORE THAN AN EDITORIAL — IT TURNED INTO A TRAVELING CONCEPTUAL PROJECT. ITS PUBLICATION OPENED DOORS FOR INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE, CONFIRMING THAT A DEEPLY PERSONAL VISUAL NARRATIVE CAN RESONATE FAR BEYOND ITS ORIGIN.
THE SERIES CONTINUES TO EVOLVE AND REMAINS EXHIBITION-READY: A COHESIVE BODY OF WORK THAT BLENDS FASHION, FINE ART, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STORYTELLING. IT’S A PROJECT I INTEND TO CARRY FURTHER — INTO GALLERIES, PRINT EDITIONS, AND FUTURE EXPANSIONS OF THE THEME.
VIEW NEXT PROJECT
LE JARDIN RETROUVÉ — THE PERFUME FOREST INSTALLATION, SHANGHAI
An immersive exhibition that unfolded like a scent-game: my hand-drawn characters reached out to visitors, guiding them through each perfume — every fragrance ready to be explored through glass diffusers resting on acrylic pedestals, merging art, interaction and commerce into one world.
