If somebody asked me to describe Marta Bevacqua’s photos, I’d answer that besides pure marvel, they arise a collision of oxymorons within me. Like exact opposites yet perfectly aligned, meeting halfway between the ebb and flow, just like waves do when they crash against rocks.
Marta’s images are overwhelming. They manifest with strong intensity yet they murmur the subtlety of a fleetingly delicate fragility. Her subjects – usually females – are bewitchingly charming, and they capture the observer into a dense weave of enigmatic fascination that’s hard to escape. The subjects present themselves as determined though they unequivocally push us to step over into a reality which shows the fine line between worldly and otherwordly, natural and supernatural, and where oneirism simply appears as another possible facet of everyday life.
Magic fairytales where the use of light and reflections give way to a creative suspension of thoughts, to create a space where everything is possible. And it is in fact Marta’s pronounced artistic sensitivity that confers that atmosphere which so uniquely distinguishes her characteristic traits to every shot.
Her love for photography begins at a young age, when she learns her first notions from her father who had always nurtured interest as an amateur. Currently Marta lives in Paris where she has decided to establish permanently to move forward on her career with passion, spacing from personal projects, to fashion, to advertising.
I stumble upon her work on Instagram almost by mistake, and after a long secretive admiration I contact her.
. . .
WHY
why and how did you end up in your career path?
It kind of happened by chance during high school. I was playing a fantasy role game online, and I was looking for photos or pictures that could represent my character. That’s how I discovered sites like DeviantArt, Flickr and others. Once I found what I was searching for, I kept surfing those websites daily, just for the simple pleasure of looking at beautiful images.
From then onwards the leap was almost spontaneous. I thought I could also try to take a few pictures myself. I found an old (and broken) compact camera at home and never stopped since.
That was obviously only the beginning. I grew slowly, and once graduated I devoted myself to this passion fully until it gradually became my job.
WHO
how would you describe yourself in a few words?
I am a big dreamer, frequently melancholic and solitary. I tend to prefer staying on my own, reading a good book, rather than being amongst the crowd. I’m a reserved person, but when I start talking nobody can stop me anymore. I love to travel.
WHAT
what is your source of inspiration?
I am truly inspired by everything. From books, to movies, to music and also other artists’ works (not only photographers). I take inspiration from what surrounds me, nature in particular. It could be a peculiar light, clouds passing fast in the sky, the wind shaking the trees. I wind up having ideas in the most random moments. I usually note everything down and develop the idea immediately afterwards.
WHERE
where do you go to when you need a break?
I walk. I like to walk at a fast pace. I’d go to a park where I don’t see or hear noise and people.
WHEN
when and what will your next steps be?
I am scheduling a few trips to expand my horizons. I am currently on the hunt for new stimuli.
**WILDCARD
in your photos a majority of female subjects prevails, compared to an almost complete absence of male subjects. Is there a precise reason behind this stylistic approach?
I’m a woman, so maybe it’s just because I understand female subjects better. It’s always been an instinctive choice, I never really thought about it too much.