Interview: Fosca Esposito
Luca Curci talks with Fosca Esposito during the 12th edition of ROME INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR 2024, at ITSLIQUID Monti – Rome Art Space.

Fosca Esposito is a young artist and architect from Rome. She has studied in Italy and Spain. Initially, she began her architectural studies in Rome at Sapienza University, then she moved to Venice to continue at IUAV.  In between, she also studied architecture for a year in Madrid at San Pablo CEU University. After graduation, she returned to Spain and worked for a few months at the EMBT studio in Barcelona. Once she finished her studies, she started working in production design for cinema and TV series, She collaborated with productions like Wildside, Cattleya, and Luckyred. Some of her works include 7 Women and a Murder, The Girls Don’t Cry, Those About to Die, and Acab. In her free time, she loves doing sports, traveling, and taking photos. 

Luca Curci – When did you realize that photography could also be a lens on life? 
Fosca Esposito – I’ve been taking photos since I was around 10 years old, when I got my first camera. Since then, I’ve never been without this tool because I realized that I need it. I usually don’t go out specifically to take photos, but it’s when I’m out, observing what’s around me, that I sometimes feel inspired by something or someone and feel the need to take a photo. 

LC – According to you, what makes a good photo? Which details do you focus on? 
FE – I think there are many ingredients that make a good photo. First, a good photo needs the right light and therefore good colors. Second, perspective is important, so finding a good point of view is crucial. Then there is the subject of the photo. It has to have value and significance; otherwise, there’s no reason to capture it with the camera. In my opinion, a photo is beautiful when the photographer recognizes the message within the image and conveys it by giving the picture a name, a title, or a description. This way, everyone can understand why the photo exists and why it resonates with the photographer. 

LC – What do you think about art on social media? Are they turning into the new showcases of contemporary art? 
FE – Yes, I totally agree – social media are the new showcases of contemporary art. If there weren’t Instagram, for example, I wouldn’t have discovered Itsliquid. Moreover, without Instagram, I would probably have lost interest in taking photos because I wouldn’t have received any positive feedback from others. 

LC – Did your style change over the years? In which way? 
FE – I don’t think I’ve changed my style because I’ve never followed a particular style. I simply follow my instinct and take photos when I’m attracted to something. When it happens, I probably wouldn’t be able to explain why I find it attractive, but I understand it later when I see the picture in post-production. Over the years, I have become more demanding, so I probably wouldn’t photograph something today that I would have captured in the past. 

LC – How is your creative process? 
FE – My creative process is very simple. Taking pictures is not my goal in my daily life, but it happens quite often that I’m on my way somewhere and suddenly feel the need to stop because I have to photograph something. I usually take at least three to a hundred shots until I’m sure I’ve captured at least one good photo. Then, when I’m at home, I look at the photos, find the best one, and if it’s not immediately obvious, I try to understand why I took this photo and why I found it attractive. This helps me discover the meaning behind my picture. If the meaning feels right, I post it on my Instagram account, focsina. I like to see if people agree with my work. 

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the exhibition? 
FE – Yes, I agree with you, and it was quite easy for me to find works of mine that align with the theme of the exhibition. “Future landscapes” is a very relevant theme. Every day, new technologies give us the opportunity to see new and original scenery, so it has been interesting to see how new artists respond to that. I also really like the theme of mixing identities. While our human bodies are solid, we are not just skin, muscles, and bones. We are also reason and feeling, and I think we can express this through literature and art. What’s more, our thoughts and feelings depend entirely on external factors, so I found the theme of mixing identities fascinating – where “identities” include both bodies and spaces that are intertwined, transforming them into an artwork. 

LC – Can you explain something about the artworks you have in our exhibition? 
FE – Yes, I showed four pictures. Two of them are aligned with the theme “future landscapes,” and the other two explore the theme of “mixing identities.” “Paradise” is a picture I took on an aeroplane while flying back from Holland. As you can see, I was between the clouds at sunset, creating a magical atmosphere. I think it fits well with the theme “future landscapes” because it’s a place I’ve been to once, and it’s hard to imagine experiencing it again in the future – maybe in the next life, in a place people hope to reach one day, a future landscape called PARADISE! “OW YELLOW!” is the second photo. It’s another sunset I captured while standing in front of the Pacific Ocean in California. The atmosphere around me was entirely yellow, as if I were inside a yellow cloud, and the shapes around me were unrecognizable. The only thing visible was the ocean, and even then, it was impossible to distinguish the horizon between the sky and the water. This moment was incredibly unique, so I can only imagine it in the future as a future landscape. “Falling is Fun” depicts a friend playing on a dune in the Namibian desert. I photographed him as he was falling down the hill. I think this photo aligns with the theme of mixing identities because my friend’s body and happiness are in complete harmony with the nature around him.  “Running Shots” is the last image. It also fits the theme of “mixing identities.” It shows a child running up the steps of a staircase in a museum. This child was surprisingly at ease in the surrounding darkness, and he knew exactly where he was going. The meaning of this image is that human bodies can feel comfortable even in spaces that are dark and unknown. 

LC – What do you think about the ITSLIQUID Platform? 
FE – I think ITSLIQUID is a very good platform because it supports unknown artists and gives them the opportunity to be seen. It’s also a bold move because they believe in people solely by looking at their works, without following trends. I thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity! It has been a great pleasure collaborating with you, and I hope to be part of your future events.