With the project Let me tell you who I am I approached the theme of refugees under a human, intimate perspective. It is evident that we, as people from the hosting communities, have drawn a line between “refugee” and “person”, thinking of the former as something “else” to a dehumanising extent. Far from the conventional way the media mostly represent them, I am interested in making the audience experiencing an
intimate encounter with the person behind the figures. Fear for the unknown holds back many, who try to hide under the protective wing of geographical borders, which are mental first of all. But if on one side far right movements across Europe and beyond are growing, oozy of nationalist ideology, I still have faith in the power of photography as a way to break down walls and stimulate genuine human interaction. While also documenting their context, the main aim was to explore refugees' identity, and the array of emotional, cultural elements peculiar of their condition. For this reason portraits, combined with writings or drawings that people left me upon request, are a consistent part of my work. Throughout my research the intention was always to involve the subjects in the creative process, loading the photos of authenticity and authorship. I have been working on this project for the last eight months. In August 2015 I started my documentary journey from Sicily, in the South of Italy, which stands as one main access door to Europe for many fleeing their countries. I then moved north and explored the reality of the Jungle, the self-organised refugees camp in the French town of Calais, on the border with the UK. Visiting a refugee family in Nuremberg during the winter, I could also see how Germany deals with the issue. I eventually travelled back to Italy, but in the North-East this time, close to my home town, where again the border position makes it an interesting transient point for asylum seekers.