About me
I was born in Paris in 1970 to an Italian mother and a Japanese father.
Today, I am based in Switzerland on the shores of Lake Geneva, near the Alps.
My childhood was marked by frequent moves and nature became my refuge; a stable
sanctuary where I could lose myself for hours. Even small spaces transformed
into vast landscapes of forests, mountains, and lakes, much like a Japanese
garden.
My perception was shaped early by the
Japanese and Chinese paintings my father admired. In 1983, I began capturing my
encounters with nature, developing my first black and white film. A few years
later, I printed these images on fiber-based paper, realizing that the
rendition of a photograph plays a crucial role in its emotional impact. My
approach has since been influenced by my Swiss masters: Marcel Imsand’s luminous
subtleties, Alain de Kalbermatten’s minimalist abstraction, and Stefania
Beretta’s precise compositions.
Influences and Artistic Vision
My photographic work has taken various
directions, including contemporary and travel photography, which will soon be
available on separate platforms. As regards my landscape work, my approach is
rooted in the American Straight Photography movement, particularly Edward
Weston. His ability to transform ordinary elements -tree trunks, rocks, leaves-
into art mirrors my own connection to nature. Ansel Adams inspires me with his
technical mastery, using photography to reveal, and not to alter, reality.
Alfred Stieglitz’s Equivalents series was a revelation, as his cloud studies
capture emotion rather than a subject. This approach is also echoed in Minor
White’s surrealist-inspired photography.
Beauty does not require vast landscapes;
it exists everywhere provided it resonates with the inner self. Color plays a
crucial role in my relationship to nature. Joel Meyerowitz’s work, capturing
fleeting light in ordinary scenes, taught me that photography is not just about
space but also about time: each image freezes a moment that will never return.
Cross-Cultural Perspectives
Our perception of nature is shaped by
culture. When I look at the Alps, I see echoes of Chinese landscape paintings,
particularly the Northern Song Dynasty’s painters Dong Yuan and Juran. The
Masters of the Yuan Dynasty, who expressed inner emotions through landscapes,
have also influenced my work. My compositions often draw from Japanese
aesthetics: the Kanō school’s visual inventiveness and the Nanga school’s
serene minimalism.
European influences are equally
important. Caspar David Friedrich’s dramatic compositions evoke the
impermanence of life, while J.M.W. Turner’s colors create dreamlike
atmospheres. Claude Monet’s exploration of light and reflection feels
particularly photographic.
My literary background (Master of Arts)
also shapes my work. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in Reveries of a Solitary Walker, found meaning in nature’s small
details, which make him perceive it as a whole : a harmonious entity to which
he himself belonged. Romantic writers such as Lamartine saw nature as a mirror
of human emotion, reflecting the inner feelings of the poet. Symbolist poet
Baudelaire links every natural element to an inner universe made of colors,
sounds, sensations where it becomes a signifying poetical material. These
romantic views deeply influence my vision of nature and frequently guide my
photographic work.
The Interior Art project
In the winter of 2007, a turning point in
my personal life led me to embark on a photographic journey along the River
Arve, from its confluence with the River Rhône to its glacial source in
Chamonix. This became a metaphorical exploration of my own life, inspiring a
long-term artistic work on the emotions nature evokes through seasonal changes:
the Interior Art project.
For a decade, I captured nature’s
shifting moods across Switzerland and France: the Alps, Lake Geneva, Jura
Mountains, Provence, Brittany, Pyrénées ... I used medium format chromogenic film, which best preserves nature’s nuances. As my work follows the seasons,
I release new series twice a year on this site: spring/summer on March 21 and
autumn/winter on September 21. Please visit the current season and the permanent collection. You can also browse by categories.
Art Prints of the Interior Art
Project are available exclusively on my website. Selling directly to collectors enables me to focus on photography rather than administrative tasks. My
customers are my best ambassadors, since many discover my work in the homes of friends. As a
token of gratitude, I offer special rewards for referrals.
My quarterly newsletter provides exclusive content, and I warmly invite you to connect with me on social media. I look forward to sharing this artistic journey with you.