Pasquale Proia - photography - Scent of a Venus

As often happens when I work on a new photograph, I reach a point that feels final—and sometimes it is—but more often than not, the image remains there, suspended, even for long periods, even years. Then something happens, I don't quite know how: perhaps simply while browsing through my archive, I decide to combine certain images, even photographs I thought were already finished.

This is exactly what happened with "Traces of the Yellow Venus" (July 2025), a work I was developing inspired by the Venus of Willendorf. I wasn't entirely convinced about publishing it yet; then, scrolling through my works-in-progress, "Scent of a Woman" (2023) appeared on the screen. I placed them side by side and thought they could integrate.

I was actually looking for "curves" for my Venus, but the project took a different turn: variants are emerging for both photos, and perhaps something else entirely is taking shape. Both images are part of a long-term research into wood textures and grains—a path that remains open to new shots and further elaborations.

I am convinced that the dialectic part of my work should not be predominant, but neither should it be denied. It is beautiful, and often enriching, when one chooses to converse with someone about their work. When an authentic understanding is born, you might even discover details you had never noticed before.