One of the images of Ri'tratti di beauty
Our mouths fill when we say the words slow-life . A slow life, capable of letting us breathe and without haste. Live in peace, with enjoyment, without running. A utopia that we idolize because none of us carry it out except glorious exceptions . Namely, when we travel . But isn't life just slow normal life?
Gianluca Guaitoli Y Carlotta Bertelli , of Studio Hamor , a humanistic project based on the investigation of the ethics and aesthetics of art and life, saw it this way when they moved to live in Vetrian Fountain , a small town in the south of the Tuscany.
Gianluca & Carlotta
"We came from living in the frenzy of the city – as a photographer, she lived in Paris, New York and Milan. He traveled the world working as a hairdresser – and making a change to the rural life It was something that seduced us. You often feel disoriented if you are not used to taking breaks, meditating or even praying, but after a while the body relaxes, you breathe more deeply, the mind is more 'empty', your senses are more open and you wonder how you could go so fast in the past", they confess to us
"That is, at least, our experience and that of the people we have met here," they continue.
Monteverdi Tuscany contacted the couple to document life in Castiglioncello del Trinoro , an area neighboring that of his new residence and in which the Boutique hotel . The objective was to create the project entitled ri'tratti di beauty , a photographic diary that is published every four months and has texts by the philosopher Francesca Simeoni.
"With ri'tratti di bellezza what we seek is to create an expression, an object that reflects the poetic life of the town". Throughout the year, Monteverdi usually organizes cultural experiences, available for his guests and visitors. One of them is the temporary gallery of contemporary art in which artists such as Noah Humes or Linder Sterling have exhibited, so the transition to a publication such as ri'tratti di bellezza came naturally.
Pages of Ri'tratti di beauty.
As creative director of the project, Gianluca knew immediately that the Photography de Carlotta would fit. "She works expecting, imagining, respecting and wanting to learn... so she came up with the idea of inspiring us in the travels and cultural rites of the grand-tour , the source of inspiration for many artists," he says.
"The crossing that we tell through ri'tratti di bellezza always takes place in the same place and that is part of the message that we want to share: that the true adventure is in a place where you can reconnect with your body and your soul . A place where you can simply exist, breathe and live, letting life inspire you by surprising you with its beauty. This is what her photos are about and that's what our work is about," he concludes.
Sunsets and wines.
A camera rolleiflex it was the only "instrument" that Carlotta assumed as a partner to capture each of the pages that make up the book. Although that term does not quite fit her.
"Unlike other photographers, my style is not that of hunting or capturing, for me that is something very violent. I do not like the attitude of predator in photographic terms. I prefer to keep my eyes and my heart open, letting things happen. That's why I made the transition from the format digital to analog , because it is more discreet, silent, handcrafted, essential and human... like life in Monteverdi , which is exactly what ri’tratti di beauty is all about", she clarifies.
Photography by Ri'tratti di beauty.
posting Every four months , Are the seasons those who rule the editorial line of each publication but also the stories and customs of its inhabitants. "We live a 15-minute drive from Monteverdi, so it's become a go-to place since we've settled in the area. We've seen it under the light that each season brings and we consider it part of Our home . In addition, we are in love with the dream of its owner, Michael Cioffi , which infiltrates every part of the project", the couple tells us. "He always says that he believes in beauty because it has the power to make us better human beings", they explain to us.
In fact, Castiglioncello del Trinoro was one of the places where Carlotta and Gianluca looked for a house to rent, even before they knew of Monteverdi's existence.
"We love the atmosphere of the area and the feeling it gives to feel apart from the sky but, at the same time, very close to it. All surrounded by nature and welcomed by the beauty . It is also about 100 meters above sea level and has stunning views of the Orcia Valley," they continue.
Ri'tratti di beauty
The last few months will also shape the story of their next publication, in which they hope to be able to help to achieve a feeling of community and togetherness, trying to capture in images a year that they hope will leave no trace other than their memory.