Interview: Giulia Blasi, photographer

Today we're bringing you a dispatch from the Italian Desk - we've been fortunate enough to get time with Giulia Blasi, an extremely accomplished and versatile photographer. We first came across Giulia's work when she exhibited at the Photofusion Book Fair a few months back. We were stuck by Giulia's diverse style - portrait, reportage, studio work - commissioned and found. An artist with eyes always open, searching for inspiration to strike at any given moment. So let's hear a little bit more about all that...

Hey Giulia! Thanks for taking the time to talk to us. Let's start with the question we ask everyone... may you please tell us about your creative journey so far?

My creative journey started when I was young. I’ve always drawn and painted since I can remember. When I was 20, I enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome and studied Painting. In 2013 I move to The Netherlands, Groningen, where I studied Fine Art at the Academia Minerva. When I was there I mostly worked with video and photography, and I was investigating abstract images and natural subjects. I remember one day after I moved to the Netherlands, one of my classmates lent me her analogue camera that she wasn’t using at that time - I was incredible happy. I ran into the forest and shot my first film. Since then I’ve always shot on film.

In 2017 I decided to move back to Italy. At that time I was working as a photo assistant for a Roman Food Photographer which taught me a lot and brought me onto real sets for the first time. I continued to follow my own path and soon started to work with my own clients, which is what I do now.

Tells us about the moment you captured an image and knew you had a voice.

Sometimes when I walk around I feel like something wants to be seen by me. Something that strongly catches my attention, that happens really fast. It feels like somebody’s calling you. You can answer that call or you can pass by. When you answer, you start to communicate and there is an exchange of energy. It's really dense and invisible.

Are you precise in your undertaking of creative projects, or do you dive straight in and see what happens?

It depends on what kind of project I’m working on. Some aspects needs to be planned, especially when you work with other people, but when I’m going with my camera by myself I don’t want to put strong limits to what I’m doing. It is more about keeping the concentration and entering the world deeply. The essence of your thoughts emerge by themselves if you dive in and go by feel.

What makes you seek out a new medium?

I mostly work with photography but I am a curious person and I get my inspiration from everything I feel. Creating something is a strong act that passes through the whole of your body and mind and I’m learning to see what resonates most with me at any specific moment.

You say you like to 'put yourself in doubt' – can you tell us about that methodology?

Doubting asks you to reflect on what you have done. It can lead you to seek other ways to explore or it can stop you. You have to be strong and have the courage, for example, to throw away what you have created if your intuition tells you it isn't right.

There is a time to reflect and a time to take action. At a certain moment of the research, even if you’re in doubt, you have to do it. Going through my old work, I feel I could have done something differently, but the amazing part is that you can start another project and use practically what you’ve learned. You can go back with your mind and remember your doubts from another perspective, where you’ll find other ones to embrace.

You work across fashion, film, portraiture - many sectors. How do you retain your voice against the client requirements and where are you most free?

I always keep in mind the client's needs while shooting commissioned work. Most of the time this is not an obstacle because everything I shoot goes through my eyes. I choose how and what I like most. Sometimes you have to come to compromise though and it’s your responsibility to take the photos you agreed on. Creating moodboards with references is fundamental to be sure you’re talking about the same elements and atmosphere.

How do you technically work in the studio and out in the field – what tools do you bring to both?

I use different tools based on the kind of situation it is. When I’m outside I always carry my flash but I don’t always use it. I prefer wide lenses but I still carry my tele with me. In the studio I work mostly with flash lights, 85 mm or 50 mm lenses

You're featured in a the latest issue of RÜDO Magazine - the brief was to challenge 'an unimaginative—and often pessimistic—interpretation of the concept of trash' - how did you attack this?

The word trash literally means waste material - things to throw away. This implies that thess things are not useful anymore. Take Shelter comes from photographs I took in the most diverse situations and in different times. They belong to different stories, but they live in a completely new form in the space of RÜDO. What and how we throw away can have a different meaning and can be used for other purposes. This is an important aspect of how we can transform the world and our surroundings. I operate in the same way with my photographs. I transform these images that were out of context, for example for a commissioned job, into a new and open story.

How do you feel about seeing your work in print?

Having printed a book represents for me a small milestone on which to reflect and continue on from. Printing something is to give a physical and permanent form to something that would otherwise be ephemeral. To print it you have to make irrevocable decisions, which in hindsight, will resonate with all their meaning. I’m so happy about it!

Have there been any moments of true doubt or insecurity in your journey and how did you overcome it?

Of course these moments have always been and will always be. On the other hand, think about the complete lack of doubt. It can impede you to find new opportunities and grow, as an artist and as a person as well. We have to get out of our comfort zone.

Has your art positively helped your mental health in any way?

Yes absolutely art helped me to understand my self better and to transform my thoughts. It helped me to understand that I am allowed to take my space in this world.

Creativity requires a deep level of thought and commitment – how do balance that with day to day life?

It’s hard sometimes to deal with daily life with all of the things to do. I’m trying to balance them by having a healthy routine and planning some space to stay with myself, even though it is difficult sometimes because working as a freelancer, my days are never the same. Giving myself some rules and discipline is necessary for me to live with a clean mental attitude.

What advice would you give to someone starting out on their creative journey?

My advice would be to live in the present, and the future will come. Don’t be scared by failures. Be yourself.

Big thanks to Giulia for sharing those fantastic insights into her ways of working. It's really important to stay upright and confident in your self and your voice, while still being flexible and open to adaptation and compromise - especially when working on commissioned work. Finding a way to keep your voice and also play along is really difficult, but Giulia's shown us a way to do it. So thank's for that!

Before we get to the socials and stuff, we invite you to head over to Annette Books to grab a copy of RÜDO Magazine and check out Giulia's work!

Socials time - hit the buttons below and head off to see some beautiful images captured by this fabulous artist.

We're constantly on the look out for new artists, creatives and initiatives to feature in TheNeverZine - so if you are, or know someone who is going their own way and doing their own thing on their own terms and would be a good fit to feature please smash that button below and get in contact. By talking to each other, and sharing our journeys, ideas and insights on creativity, art, mental health and resilience we can all create, share and thrive together. Nice thought that.

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