Time to move forward by Mikael Carlsson
It's time to move forward
I love travelling and I’m passionate about exploring humanity in different contexts and cultures. Italy is a country that I hold close to my heart and that I frequently return to. Italy has it all, culture, interesting history, friendly people, vibrant social life, pleasant climate and, of course, the food and the wine! There is especially one city that makes me want to immediately board a southbound flight and that makes my taste buds cry of joy, namely the Sicilian capital Palermo.
What makes Palermo so special? Probably its cultural diversity. As one of the oldest cities in Europe it has been ruled by Phoenicians, Arabs, Romans and more, which is evident in architecture as well as gastronomy. And, of course, the recent violent history with Cosa Nostra, the Sicilian Mafia, has also influenced the life of the city. The city is beautifully decorated with street art from very talented artists. Among the most prominent masterpieces are portraits of Giovanni Falcone, the anti-mafia judge who got brutally killed in the 90s, with the message “E’ tempo di andare avanti!” (it's time to move forward).
The city has a very large historical centre with cobbled, narrow streets and it has an abundance of fabulous palaces and churches. Even though Palermo attracts its fair load of tourists, it's still easy to find ordinary daily life going on if you leave the main tourist paths and attractions and venture into the maze of narrow and meandering alleys or to less visited hoods. Compared to more polished cities like Milano, Roma or Firenze, Palermo is rather seedy and rough but I think that only makes it more interesting and photogenic. I simply find beauty in the imperfections.
The markets of Palermo deserve a chapter of their own. These bustling, long-stretching streets are lined with vendors selling locally grown fruits and veggies, cheese and spices, freshly caught seafood, and carnivorous delights. The markets also host plenty of food stalls and tiny restaurants that sell anything from grilled meat and innards to braised snails, fried swordfish, and Aperol Spritz. The smell and smoke from the ubiquitous grills are overwhelming and alluring.
Something that caught my eye and interest was the abundance of barbershops in Palermo. These are, to me, quite different from the hairdressers seen in my country, from old-school barbers shaving regular customers to the everpresent African-style barbers. Another curiosity is the card games going on everywhere in the streets, something that may seem mundane to locals, but for me, it’s rather exotic and very different from my hoods. Especially older men gather to socialise with a deck of cards after working hours.
Even though I frequently roam the streets of my hometown I always feel more motivated and inspired, and I’m much more productive when travelling to new locations. I find Italy easier than my home country to portray people or maybe it’s just me changing my approach. When exploring an unfamiliar city with open eyes, you are more observant of unpredictable events.
I prefer to use a lightweight camera with a fixed normal lens, which allows me to walk the streets for hours and only stop for a ubiquitous coffee or an aperitivo. My approach is a mixture of candid street images and asked-for portraits as well as pictures of mundane things that catch my interest, such as animals, street art, garbage, food, signs, and more.
If there is a common thread running through my photography it would be human solitude. I find it quite remarkable that people are drawn to cities but often still tend to live as rather isolated souls. But city life also makes it easier for people to be themselves not having to adapt to the norms in smaller societies. Thus, it’s generally easier to find interesting people to portray in larger cities.
All images here are taken during two trips to Palermo in 2022 and 2023. Writing this text in the middle of the harsh winter in Stockholm urges me to start searching for flights to Sicily, makes me long for a standing coffee in a local bar, a paper cone of fried fish from a friggitoria, an aperitivo in the sunset and a late dinner at a trattoria.
©Julia Carlsson.
I’m an associate professor in zoology at Stockholm university. As the job doesn’t really stimulate my need for creativity I like to fill my spare time with more artistic projects.
My passion for photography started early, but I only got more serious about photography some 6-7 years ago. Even though I mainly shoot digital, I have recently started shooting film, 135, as well as medium format.
No matter what camera or format, I usually prefer to view the world through a 50 mm lens equivalent.
I don’t want to limit myself to street photography. Actually, I don’t like to be categorised, but I also enjoy portraits, social documentaries, conceptual photography and more. Why limit oneself when everything is photographable?
My sources of inspiration are e.g. Daido Moriyama, Anders Petersen, Diane Arbus, Letizia Battaglia and Ernst Haas.
