The Contactum Punctum

Inspired by the phrase ” What exists in nature as an archetype that transcends culture“ from Paul Valery’s book ”Man and the Shell,” I felt an urge to recall my spontaneous habit of collecting stones from the beaches I visit. A vital practice that hints at the care I take of my memories. Thus, the photographic idea of this project was born, referring to imaginary and non-imaginary meeting points. Each stone, with its indefinable shape, varied colors, and engravings, brings to life in my eyes a world that is unfamiliar but willing to accommodate my every emotion and activate each of my senses. The scents it carries from all the shores it has touched, its smooth or rough texture from the winds, the sea, and the fresh waters of a lake, from the lava that embraced it over time, make it a unique creature that, although by nature a horse, behaves generously and selflessly. It offers its body to nature and its beauty to man. It exists and beautifies as a result of other environmental conditions and continues to evolve despite the changes it experiences and the forces that “wear it down.” In each one, I silently keep my memories and associations, never forgetting where we met.