A Sisterhood.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Jun 21

Between 2015 and 2018, photographer Valeria Luongo captured the everyday life of a group of nuns living in a Convent in Rome.

Photography and Text Valeria Luongo

As a photographer and anthropologist I have always been interested in stories of people who live “radical” lives, those who decide to exist outside standard modes of living and make choices that influence their entire way of being. I wanted to see which kind of activities marked the daily life of a nun outside the prayer. The community who I documented for years is called Ravasco and takes this name from its founder. Once in the community, these women must learn how to live together, trying to understand and adapt to each other. Sometimes the age and cultural gap can be considerable; some are in their 80s and have spent the majority of their life in the community, others are really young and have just joined the Convent. It took me many years to create a relationship based on trust and to become familiar with the intricate details of their lives.

I photographed the relationship between them, with the aim that my photos could communicate their humanity, vulnerability and cohesion. My background in Anthropology shaped my approach to documentary photography. Using ethnographic fieldwork allows me to embed myself within a group of people, speaking “with” rather than speaking “for”. This is a technique that I have transferred to my photographic work so that the two complement each other.

For me the most important aspect is representation: Do the people I photograph feel represented by the images I've created?

“As a photographer and anthropologist I have always been interested in stories of people who live ‘radical’ lives.”

“Using ethnographic fieldwork allows me to embed myself within a group of people, speaking ‘with’ rather than speaking ‘for’.”

About Valeria

Valeria Luongo (born in Rome, 1989) is a London based documentary photographer and anthropologist whose work focuses on spiritual communities, women’s stories and the effects of globalisation in rural areas.

To see more Valeria’s work, please visit her website or follow her on Instagram

Enjoyed this article?
Like ZERO.NINE on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram

Realism beauty captures intricate details by creating a sense of intimacy for viewers and invites an appreciation of delicate hues or textures of makeup. Macro photography focuses on individual features while the story celebrates the raw beauty of unretouched skin, embracing imperfections as a testament to authenticity and honesty in makeup artistry.

Let's build a sandcastle

Sand mining, once a symbol of time and nature's intricate work, has transformed into a stark reminder of humanity's unchecked greed. Through the lens of Jakub Stanek's photography, the relentless exploitation of this natural resource confronts us with the harsh reality of irreversible consequences. It's time to reconsider our priorities and strike a balance between human needs and planetary protection.

Nothing to See Here

Ben Zank, a native of New York City, discovered his passion for photography at the age of 18 when he stumbled upon a Pentax ME Super in his grandmother's attic. Using his self-portraits as a means to express emotions where words fall short, Zank is poised to unveil his debut photo book, showcasing his distinct artistic vision.

Queer the dancefloor

Over the past two decades, Northern Irish DJ CORMAC has steadily built a reputation as one of queer clubland’s most enduring and vital figures. Following the launch of his own imprint Polari Records, he’s recently released ‘Queerly Beloved’ – an essential new podcast series featuring always frank and often funny conversations exploring queerness, identity and music with an impressive line-up of fascinating guests.

Me Entro El Garrion (I got the Sparrow)

Photographer and filmmaker Lorna Carmichael travelled to Cuba to document the impacts of the enduring US embargo. Upon her arrival, she discovered that local Cubans also yearn for a bygone era, prompting her to create the photo story 'I got a sparrow' to encapsulate these sentiments.

Don’t sleep on Henry Rowley

Scroll through your ‘For You’ page for long enough and you’ll likely come across Henry Rowley (if you’re not already one of his 1.3 million followers), where the Leicester-born comedian posts his distinct sketches, impressions, and parodies, making fun of everything from Harry Potter to the Soho House wait staff. This year, however, Henry is bringing his first solo hour-long comedy show to the Edinburgh Fringe and to the stage in London. We get to know the man behind the internet’s favourite characters it loves to hate.

I have nothing

With his ongoing series ‘I Have Nothing’, Lagos-based photographer Ebenezer Okike documents Nigeria's new generation, delving into emerging stereotypes and desires. The resulting images feel very personal and intimate, capturing details and scenes of daily life in Nigeria.

Crystal Murray – The Beauty in Evolution

Crystal Murray has seen a lot in her young tenure: touring jazz clubs with her father, founding fashion collective Gucci Gang in Paris, producing music during the Pandemic, as well as releasing her voracious comeback single, ‘Payback’, this year. As we delve into conversation over Zoom, the Parisian artist clambers into the back of a taxi - traversing through her newly-accustomed life in London, a city cultivating her eclectic musical ambitions and greater dreams.

Rouge One

A Bronze Age 3600-year-old red lipstick was recently discovered in the Jiroft region of Iran. The colour and texture were not too dissimilar from today’s lipstick’s combination of wax and pigments. This ancient cosmetic was found encased in a tube-like container.

Dryland

The present humanitarian crisis in East Africa leaves many individuals displaced by the severe impact of climate change. Photographer Felicity McCabe visited Somaliland to document the ephemeral existence of the refugees and the distinctive architecture of their camps.

Imagined Images

The series ‘Imagined Images’ consists of 136 images, all generated with the help of AI. Visual artist Maria Mavropoulou created these images to recall unphotographed memories, moments she imagined or has been told that happened. With her work, she asks: What is the use of a photograph?

David Shields – Flying High

Charismatic British actor David Shields’ profile has steadily been on the rise over the last few years. Following turns in The Crown, Doctor Who and a truly scene-stealing appearance in Black Mirror, Shields is now rubbing shoulders with the hottest movie stars of the day in the new Spielberg-produced multi-million-dollar WWII epic Masters Of The Air on Apple TV+. We catch up with a star firmly in the ascendant.

You Go Ahead—I'll Watch

Photographer Mickey Aloisio’s first solo exhibition just opened at Marlborough in NYC. "You Go Ahead—I'll Watch" features his interdisciplinary art using various analogue media and other alternative technologies. The exhibition includes work from his series "Lunch Break" and "Morning Dew," exploring transgressive narratives, queer navigation and intimate moments. Drawing inspiration from Laud Humphreys' controversial 1970s text Tearoom Trade, Aloisio examines consent, manipulation and deception in human relationships. The showcased works include archival pigment prints, cyanotypes and the video installation "Channel 17".

BIFRÖST

French photographer Romain Coudrier went to the Artic Circle in search of one of the greatest civilisations, the Vikings. He found a mix of vast nature and isolated spaces under the domination of mass consumption.

Marungka Tjalatjunu (dipped in black)

With “Marungka tjalatjunu (Dipped in black)”, photographer Matthew Thorne documents the poignant journey of Derik Lynch, a queer Yankunytjatjara man, as he embarks on a road trip back to his ancestral country for spiritual healing. This autobiographical series explores Derik's memories of growing up in a remote Anangu community, delving into the profound intersections of his identity across four cultural worlds – whitefella, blackfella, Christian, and Queer.

LIGHT/MASS

Inspired by the bright and crisp light of the East Coast, British photographer Owen Davies, captured his new home New York City in a new and fascinating way. Brutalist structures and buildings stand like timeless monuments against the bright sky creating an eerie scenery completely absent of any human presence.

Portraits of Áo Dài (Hope For Peace And Love)

Vietnamese photographer Chiron Duong embarked on his project ‘365 days with Áo Dài’ to showcase the beauty and rich cultural relevance of Áo Dài – a traditional Vietnamese dress. The resulting images are rich in colour, emotions and show us a modern Vietnam that many haven’t seen like this before.

Jim Sturgess – Better late than never

After an illustrious acting career, starring in films with Anne Hathaway, Ray Liotta, or Billy Bob Thornton, among many others; he speaks to us from his East London house, full of charm and humility.

The Last Stand

Between 2010 and 2014, photographer Marc Wilson travelled to 143 locations across the British Isles and Northern Europe to capture physical remnants of the Second World War. His captivating images transport us into another time – eerie landscapes, abandoned structures and the absence of humans create a parallel universe of a time gone by. His book The Last Stand has just been published in its 4th edition and is available now.

Starling

Internationally-acclaimed Danish photographer Søren Solkær – best known for his iconic portraits of artists such as Björk, Paul McCartney, Amy Winehouse, Patti Smith, Pharrell Williams, Samuel L. Jackson and David Lynch – is set to release his 9th photographic monograph, Starling, on 26th December 2023. The images continue his photographic exploration of starling murmurations, a phenomenon known in Denmark as ‘Black Sun’.

Underground Halloween

For 20 years, Seymour Licht went out every October 31st to take pictures of strangers on the New York subway. His fascinating collection of images of partygoers in costumes is now compiled in his first book Undergound Halloween – a piece of New York history like no other. We spoke to Seymour in an exclusive interview about his passion for the scariest time of the year and what kind of people he’s meeting on the subway.

Black Peppa – Paint it black

It’s been just over a year since Drag Race UK viewers first encountered self-styled ‘Caribbean Empress of Birmingham’ Black Peppa, arguably the fiercest queen to tread the UK’s catwalk to date. Fashion-forward looks and lip sync assassin skills aside, it was Peppa’s inspiring story of self-realisation that truly captured viewers’ hearts. We catch up with Peppa alter ego Akeem-Anthony Adams about growing up in Sint Maarten, their unique style and life after reality TV.

Signs of time

When Russia started to invade Ukraine on 24th February 2022, Odessa-based photographer Viacheslav Onyshchenko felt paralysed and scared. Taking pictures and documenting his hometown was his way of coping with the fear and switching off from the constant news and media reports. Instead of photographing the evidence of the war, his work shows the ‘new normal’, the surreal everyday life of people in Odessa.

I Went on a Holiday to the Country You Fled From

Together with her friend Alejandra Ortiz, a writer and activist from Mexico, photographer Iris Haverkamp Begemann created the photo series ‘I Went on a Holiday to the Country You Fled From’. Iris travelled to Alejandra’s hometown in Mexico, tracing back her childhood and early life. The project creates an intimate portrait of identity and at the same time exposes a juxtaposition in experience and personal freedom.

David Holmes, a galloping man

In the silence preceding the symphony, David Holmes, DJ, producer, and composer (Ocean's Eleven, Killing Eve, Hunger) emerges as a masterful storyteller of sonic tales. His first album after a 15-year hiatus, is not merely a collection of songs but a musical odyssey guiding listeners through uncharted soundscapes. In this intimate interview, we delve into the very heart of Holmes's creativity, unraveling the mysteries behind each chord and lyric. Join us as the artist shares the inspirations, challenges, and revelatory moments that shaped his most recent musical creation.

Tree of Life

The beauty, symbolism, and versatility of flowers have transcended the natural world and found a place on the runways, shaping fashion and beauty trends with their timeless appeal. Claudine Blythman used Mimosa, with colours inspired by Iris and Peonies to symbolise love, friendship and healing.

Songs of Love and Loss

With ‘Songs of love and loss’, Francis Augusto captures moments of tension, tenderness and romance, which take us inside a gallery of feelings. His artworks explore the moments that characterise and stimulate our feelings of love and grief, enriching our cultural and artistic conversation on intimacy and relationships.

Transient Ties

‘Transient Ties’ recounts the forced migration of Michaela Nagyidaiová’s grandmother, Eleni/Lena, who fled Greece during the Greek Civil War. Set in Slovakia, the work delves into her identity as a political refugee and examines the impact of displacement on cultural heritage. It sheds light on the fragility of one's connection to their homeland after fleeing.

Sana Sana

Photographer Rosa Lacavalla’s project, Sana Sana describes the gradual and careful process of recovering from emotional traumas as well as a journey towards healing that starts on the inside and ends outward.

Pam Hogg – Doing it her way

In a world dominated by shades of beige, we should be grateful for Pam Hogg’s raw, indomitable energy. A painter, musician, and self-taught fashion designer, she started making her own clothes in the eighties to get into Blitz, London’s legendary club. Despite dressing big names like Rihanna or Lady Gaga, she has never surrendered to the conventional fashion system. She still makes all her designs herself from an East London studio.

JC Verona

A Sisterhood.

Between 2015 and 2018, photographer Valeria Luongo captured the everyday life of a group of nuns living in a Convent in Rome.

“As a photographer and anthropologist I have always been interested in stories of people who live ‘radical’ lives.”

“Using ethnographic fieldwork allows me to embed myself within a group of people, speaking ‘with’ rather than speaking ‘for’.”

READ NEXT

Transhumans

History of Pride