The images of the Italian photographer draw us into a strange, disturbing, surreal universe, isolated from the world.
“My name is winter and I talk about coldness”such is the tagline by Paolo Emanuele Barretta on his Behance account. This former student of photography, post-production, and communication began with drawing before turning to visual storytelling and portraiture. Since then, he has explored the human psyche, where the torments of solitude, isolation, melancholy, sadness, dreams, and nostalgia—characterizing our troubled existence—come to life in an alternative, timeless world. "What I have always sought is the ability to fully perceive the world around me, to create a bridge linking my individuality to the geometry of the cosmos.", he explains.
Dreamlike visions
This almost-thirty-year-old is one of those multi-talented artists, or more precisely, a slasher. He's a digital content creator under the name I am Winter, a teacher on Domestika (an online learning platform), an e-commerce photographer in production studios, and even a budding music lover. This last activity allows him to explore uncharted musical worlds through personal listening and playing the piano. While his photographic journey has been tumultuous in its artistic development, recognition and awards have been swift. His work has been exhibited in several countries around the world, including France, Italy, Ireland, Australia, and India. In 2021, he won the Portrait of Humanity award presented by the British Journal of PhotographyAt the same time, he is increasing his collaborations with brands such as Gucci, Versace, Max Mara, Prada and many others. "Over time, I have built a community on social media with whom I share my work, characterized by a strong chromatic, stylistic, and emotional approach.", he says.
Self-awareness
His portfolio, where green and red often predominate, is thus imbued with surrealism, dreamlike imagery, and symbolism. There is something Lynchian about this young virtuoso, even though he says he draws his cinematic and photographic inspiration from Robert Eggers, Richard Kelly, Edward Hopper, and Gregory Crewdson. "I consider my artistic style as the bridge that connects me to the world, helping me to communicate where words are not enough." And his eclectic projects are in line with his field of exploration. S'He is about to release his first music album; he published his book in November 2023' I am Winter (Published by Psicografici), where he tells his story through his photographs. “There are an infinite number of versions of the same individual, with so many nuances that it is incredibly difficult to define oneself as self-aware. […] The confusion within me led me to find in photography a fair exchange between what I needed to express and a hazy response from the world.”
Nathalie Dassa
I Am Winter by Paolo Emanuele Barretta
Psicografici Editore, November 2023
€25
psicograficieditore.com/shop/libri/i-am-winter/
Italy