There’s no doubt that the carnival of all carnivals is that of Rio de Janerio. In Italy the most famous is that of Venice, but there are still many small communities that work to keep one of the most ancient and heartfelt traditions of the "Bel Paese" alive. For many towns, Carnival is the culmination of preparation and work that lasts a whole year and brings the community together. In order to develop her own photographic project, Francesca Ciabattoni went in search for smaller but more authentic carnivals. Places where you can capture the festive air and mingle with the locals, entering their homes in small towns that are open to visitors on holidays to spy on the tensions of preparation. You can share in joy and light-heartedness which explode on the streets, with music, dancing, confetti and masks during the carnival period.
Francesca Ciabattoni was born in Rome in 1974.
Always intrigued by photography, she began very early playing with her father’s analogue reflex Nikon camera.
She grew closer to digital photography, undertaking courses and photo workshops at ‘Officine Fotografiche’ in Rome. But it was the photo feature course held by the photographer Dario De Dominicis that radically changed her approach. From that moment what interested her was not taking "beautiful pictures", rather, the way in which the camera allowed her to get closer to people, to get in touch with them and, with commitment, be able to tell their stories and communicate their humanity through the lens.
In 2010, again with De Dominicis, she participated in a photographic workshop in Andalusia during Holy Week. The air that stirred on those days, a mixture of spirituality and drama, pushed her to continue working on religions, returning several times to Andalusia and traveling to the South of Italy. The work, although still in progress, has found space and recognition in various exhibitions.
Since 2013 she has collaborated with the Milanese photographer Umberto Sommaruga on a large photographic project on Cuba, its religions and traditions, destined to lead to the publication of a book.
The theme of religions is intrinsically linked to the broader one of traditions. Within this context sits her work on Carnival in Italy.
