Torino Girls

Torino Girls is a visual exploration of young women in Turin, capturing moments of self-discovery, evolving friendships, and burdening dreams on the cusp of adulthood.

On my first day out in the city of Turin, as I walked down Via Po leading to the vibrant Parco Valentino, I was immediately drawn to how alive the city felt. I saw young women laying out picnics in the park, chatting with their friends, playing paddleball, and dancing. I wondered what they talked about, what they felt, and how their lives were transforming on the cusp of adulthood. 

I was compelled to converse with these women and gain a more internal perspective of their lives and relationships. I first approached two girls who were having a little picnic at Parco Valentino. I was very aware of the fact that I didn’t speak the language and I briefly hesitated. I overcame the anxiety and approached them anyway. I asked if I could photograph them in broken Italian, then repeated in English. Nina and Alicia instantly agreed. A little while later, we began speaking. A natural conversation ensued, each of us sharing personal anecdotes from our lives. I spent nearly three hours with them that evening until the sun set late in the night. They made me feel a part of their lives and invited me home for dinner with their friends. 

They had opened me to possibility of approaching strangers and building a deep bond within a few hours. Their enthusiasm for my project offered me the dialogue I was looking to establish, an emotional interior world that groups of girls can experience together as young adults.

The female energy is enticing, drawing us into a world unknown. With this project, I delved into the lives of young women in Turin, attempting to understand their relationships with others and with themselves. As I conversed with each of these girls, I realized there was a certain innocence they embodied into their adulthood.

The girls navigate through heartbreaks, deep-rooted friendships, burdening dreams and passion, yet each one of them in their own way hopes to explore the world beyond the rough edges of this city.