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Italy has among the most stunning coastlines across the continent, however it seems captivating that many tourists select places like the one depicted here: an unusual artificial island featuring fake tropical trees. This photograph is from a series which proved particularly important personally. I began it amidst a time marked by personal challenges back in the mid-2000s. I felt compelled to pursue an endeavor that might change my outlook, how I see things, and even reshape my identity to some extent.

Investigating Large-Scale Travel

I've long been drawn to vistas, cities, together with the relationship between humans and their spaces they inhabit. The topic I chose to focus on ended up being mass tourism. My goal was to open our eyes about this unusual facet of contemporary life: the reality that people often prefer to relax at artificial recreation areas as opposed to experiencing real settings.

I aimed to look like just a regular visitor. So I'd put on bathing suits and engage in similar actions they engaged in.

Numerous tourists desire to take a vacation to a spot in which they know exactly what awaits them, and aren't going to be surprised or discover something accidentally. A significant number also head to places they've noticed individuals upload pictures of on social media – often distorting the true nature of the location. They often capture their images without taking the time to truly engage with the environment. And in modern times, although visitors actually go to a natural attraction, such as a peak in Europe's mountains, they expect to find excellent cuisine at the location, with music, and high-level service. They want the same comforts we find in metropolitan settings. But that does not represent the true nature of mountains, that we should truly visit to find solitude, tranquility, and connection with nature.

The Creative Method

I conducted investigation and captured images in vacation parks near the Tre Cime di Lavaredo mountains within the Dolomite range, along with on ocean voyages – a type of vacation which is growing in popularity, especially among youth. One nautical firm allowed me to pass a week on a ship, however when photographing the entertainment centers, I primarily entered as just another tourist as opposed to as a journalist. I didn't wish to affect the way people acted by seeming overly like I was doing a job, hence I'd put on beach clothes just like them and engage in comparable things.

Back then, I worked with a rather heavy medium-format camera, which was not the most convenient approach to work. Should I undertook the same project today, I'd likely use an iPhone – that would be the ideal way to obtain the shots I wanted without drawing suspicion. The technique I used with the vividness within my shots represents my way of highlighting the strange, artificial quality of these sites: every element is meant to look ideal and produced in candy colours that attract youngsters.

The Key Figure

The woman wearing the dark bathing suit is a real focal point – the posture she stands within the artificial water and looking out toward the artificial island, as though observing a panorama of natural wonder. This image was shot either in Mirabilandia's aquatic complex or in the Gardaland entertainment center, both located in northern Italy. The reality that I'm unable to remember precisely which one without checking is maybe revealing by itself. They aren't exactly alike, yet they possess the same vibe. Ultimately, this location may have existed anywhere.