Females, a Sicilian story by Ornella Mazzola

21 Jul

For a few years, the two oak trees of the family, my grandmother Laura and my great-aunt Iole, have no longer been with us. This story, which has been going on for about 14 years, has taken on an even stronger value for me and for the family, both as a historical memory and as a point of continuity with the new generation of women who are growing up, continuing that imaginary line of life.

All my autumns, my springs, my winters, my summers

"Her series Females is a portrait of women in Mazzola’s family, but it’s also broader than that. What started as a personal diary, ended up being a poetic yet intense revelation of relationships and hidden secrets between women in general.

This family portrait touches on all generations and roles. It depicts Sicilian women who are headstrong and temperamental but also fragile—a complex universe of souls.

Females is a long-term project made up of fragments, intimate scenes, details, emotional discoveries, moments of calm or deepness, quiet and introspection. It’s a way to bridge the distance between photographer and subject, in silence, on tiptoes. These images depict not only the power of these women but also that of the medium of photography, which is able to go beyond the surface and connect with unknown people.

Sicily is in the background. Here, it’s represented by interiors, curtains, laces, flowers, light, shadows, bridal veils, and summer.

By photographing the universe of these women, Mazzola realised she was giving shape to her childhood memories, as well as giving form to an evolving connection with the women around her. What started as a personal vision and visual diary evolved into a more universal standpoint, portraying generations evolving over time. Seasons change, bodies transform, and yet something underneath stands still in a poetic and delicate journey."

Maria Teresa Salvati

All my autumns, my springs, mi winters, my summers

Ornella Mazzola is a photographer based in Palermo, Sicily. Her educational background includes studying Visual Anthropology at the University La Sapienza of Rome, with a focus on cinema-documentary. She developed her thesis with the documentary director Vittorio De Seta. Ornella Mazzola's photography work explores visual and socio-anthropological aspects. Her projects cover a range of topics including personal research, social photography, and intimate stories, with a focus on Southern Italy and the female universe. She has participated in several solo and group exhibitions, projects, and publications. Notable achievements include being a finalist in Portrait of Humanity 2023 by the British Journal of Photography, LensCulture Portrait Awards 2019, Marco Pesaresi 2020, and Documentary Family Award 2021. She is also among the winners of OpenWalls 2021 by The British Journal of Photography and won a competition for the anthological exhibition of the photojournalist Letizia Battaglia in Milan (Palazzo Reale) in 2020.

Ornella Mazzola

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