Vegetazione Fertile

Vegetazione fertile (Fertile Vegetation) is a staged photography and artistic installation project that conceptually and imaginatively explores some of the reasons why, today, a woman of childbearing age might choose not to pursue motherhood. It unfolds as a symbolic narrative, with a dreamlike and childlike atmosphere, characterized by staged images that blur the line between reality and fiction, showcasing installations set within an artificial woodland environment. The sequence of images follows an idealized chronology of the stages of motherhood: conception, awareness of pregnancy, fetal development, the breaking of waters, labor, and childbirth. Each image captures a different stage and the reasons why a woman might hesitate to face it, creating a layered communication that amplifies the interplay of references and meanings. Through evocative and surreal imagery, the project invites a reevaluation of the values and expectations imposed by society, offering a space for expression and recognition to women who choose alternative paths. It promotes a more diverse and inclusive discourse on motherhood and personal fulfillment.

Membri acquatici, Vegetazione fertile, 2023
100 x 75 cm

Venere con test, Vegetazione fertile, 2023
100 x 75 cm

Sto arrivando, Vegetazione fertile, 2023
100 x 75 cm

Obiettivi perdenti, Vegetazione fertile, 2023
100 x 75 cm

Pignatta cesarea, Vegetazione fertile, 2023
100 x 75 cm

Torno presto, Vegetazione fertile, 2023
100 x 75 cm

Meaning of the images

Membri acquatici (Aquatic Members): a river with fish and a dove in flight, two universal symbols of fertility, represent conception. Inflated and modified condoms allude to the male individual within the context of the phrase "there are plenty of fish in the sea," while also evoking the male sexual organ. This image embodies the fear of not finding the right partner to start a family.

Venere con test (Venus with Test): a version of Thorvaldsen's "Venus with Apple" holds a positive pregnancy test and has a measuring tape around her abdomen. As an undisputed ideal of beauty, Venus here explores the renunciation of motherhood due to the fear that aesthetic perception of the body might be compromised, in a society that often promotes unhealthy and distorted beauty standards.

Sto arrivando! (I'm Coming): an outdoor clothesline holds a pair of socks and a baby onesie announcing the arrival of a newborn. On the grass, a piggy bank releases banknotes that fly away like birds, contrasting with the title’s suggestion of something coming. This scene depicts the financial challenges associated with having children.

Obiettivi perdenti (Leaking Goals): a straw target is pierced by two arrows that puncture a fake placenta, causing it to break and release fluid. This symbolic breaking of waters, with arrows aiming at economic and professional success, represents the desire to achieve career goals without the risk of compromising them with a pregnancy.

Pignatta cesarea (C-section Piñata): a mannequin torso hangs like a piñata with a gash from which candy spills out.The abdominal cut metaphorically represents a cesarean section, relating to the actual moment of a baby's birth. The sweets symbolize the playful atmosphere of childhood, reflecting the woman who still identifies with the role of a “child.

Torno presto (Back in Five): an empty crib with the classic commercial sign indicating that the person will arrive later. The crib symbolizes the post-birth moment, and the English phrase "Back in Five" refers to anindefinite period of time: it could be minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, or even centuries. This is similar to a woman's decision to postpone the idea of having a child.

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