Claudia Bozzato is an Italian photographer whose work exists at the intersection of research and documentary photography.
Through the methodological use of both analog and digital mediums, the artist approaches themes such as origin, family, and identity in the pursuit of personal discovery.
In the series titled ‘Våroms,’ Bozzato uses evocative documentary language to explore a sense of belonging and familial ties. “In the Orsa dialect, ‘Våroms’ means ‘ours,’” the photographer says. “The term comes from the name of Ingmar Bergman’s grandmother’s house in Dalecarlia. I find this concept extremely powerful: using a possessive adjective to define a place evokes belonging, roots, and emotional ties.”
Through the use of specific elements central to the theme of family, such as photo frames, old photographs, portraits of family members, and religious icons, the photographer puts together a subtle genealogical puzzle. She focuses on her family from the objective viewpoint of a researcher piecing together history. Ultimately, she blurs the line between factual history and nostalgia, resulting in a collection of symbolic works that provide profound insight into both her past and her own identity.
Bozzato’s project reads as an ultimate self-discovery journey; it was born “from the need to reconstruct the idea of myself through my affections,” she says. It is not only a stroll down memory lane. It is a consequent, diligent work of an artistic archivist. “The project intertwines documentary photography (where elements are portrayed in their real, everyday existence) and constructed photography (in which objects are arranged in a perhaps vain attempt to retain the essence of the habits of those who are no longer with us),” the artist describes.
She tells the tale of the passage of time and universal truths about the fleetingness of human life through the story of one family. It is not about passive preservation but about showcasing how the past is very much alive in the present, how the connection and influence are shaping the everyday life of the artist. “The images do not seek to reconstruct the past but to convey the weight of my roots, which continue to weigh heavily on the present, participating in the construction of my identity as an artist, a woman, and a person,” says the photographer.
Through minimalistic, monochrome imagery inspired by a Swedish cinematographer, Sven Nykvist, Bozzato walks gently between the footprints of her predecessors, like a diligent detective, capturing the evidence. “Investigating relationships is a central thread of my practice and a key theme of ‘Våroms,’ she summarizes.
Read our “Roots” issue in full
The new theme, born as usual from what the submitted works held in common, is “ROOTS.” Within its pages, we present the artworks, creativity, and inspiration of 60 visual artists and writers from 21 countries around the world. Their diverse voices come together around a shared exploration of the return to where one belongs, the invisible threads of tradition that shape identity, and the ongoing reconnection with nature, others, and oneself.
We’re a team of writers using our craft to spotlight art in its most honest form. RAWGUE. started as a bi-monthly editorial experiment where each issue’s theme is dictated by the submitted work, thus removing editorial bias from the equation and preserving a more raw approach. We focus on all forms of poetry: written, photographed, painted, drawn, and filmed.
