The Wedding Dress Project

Here I invite women to revisit their wedding dress. Not to emphasize a specific religion or culture but simply as a symbol of a time that has passed and as an instrument to revisit the past, uncovering memories and the beauty still so present. Even if that zip never quite zips up entirely again.

THE WEDDING DRESS PROJECT

In a time when youth is glorified and valued as an indispensable asset, to get old is increasingly hard. To photograph women older than me is my way of looking inwards and to the future. Looking at what is inevitable to any of us. The passage of time.

Exploring the feminine and beauty in the unexpected is a recurrent theme in my photography work where the images are a result of my interactions with women. A brief register of cathartic moments of playing and transformation. Mirrors, clothes, dance and representations tend to be my materials.

In this project I invite women to revisit the clothes they got married with. I chose the wedding dress, not to emphasize a specific religion or culture but simply as a symbol of a time that has passed and as an instrument to revisit the past, uncovering memories and the beauty still so present. Even if that zip never quite zips up entirely again.

A garment of any colour, simple or luxurious, that was made for a ritual. That made its wearer a princess for a day. A beauty that carried with her, love, pleasure and happiness. A dress that is used once but often kept for a long time.

A piece of cloth that seem to resist to changes, separations, time…..

An unique dress that as soon as is worn again makes its owner come back in time, dance, play and remember that youth is still there, somewhere under the skin of reality.

For a few hours this costume makes its model once more the centre of attention, brings moments of intimacy and memories, real or imaginary, dreams and visions.

Free, light and loose. Fitted entirely, buttoned up or just hugged it makes itself present, with its smell and texture. Afterwards it goes back to its box full of memories and it is once again put in the bottom of the wardrobe. Who knows till when.

I started this project a while ago and stopped. In that phase of my life I was almost not ready for the process and profound exchange with my subjects.

It's now the right time and I would like to explore the project in a deeper way, involving women from wider backgrounds and traditions. I would also like to expand its documentary nature even further by collecting audio, bringing objects and an interactive exhibition at the end.