"Santa Monica" by Francesca Forquet
Francesca Forquet's journey in photography began with her studies at the Academy of Belle Arti in Bologna, Italy. Following her education, she embarked on a career where she worked on various photoshoots for newspapers, magazines, and fashion designers. In 2017, she moved significantly to Santa Monica, California, where she assumed the role of an art director specializing in creating movie posters. However, her heart yearned for her true passion, and at the start of 2019, Forquet decided to return to full-time photography.
Her subsequent projects and reportages are a personal commentary on the social environment and events that envelop her. One of her ongoing series, "Santa Monica," is a product of her fascination with the residential neighbourhoods and quiet alleyways she encountered upon her relocation to the city. These locations revealed what she considers the telltale signs-objects and messages—that shed light on the people and the culture she was eager to understand.
For Forquet, the drive to express oneself is a central aspect of being human, often manifested through the ownership and display of objects believed to reflect individuality. She acts as a conduit, amplifying the voices of the people she encounters. Her approach involves playing with these images, creating new meanings through associations, highlighting ironies, and extracting them from their context to form unique concepts or symbols. The collection of these photographs offers a glimpse into the playful, sometimes ironic, sometimes funny, and surreal aspects of the people of Santa Monica. This city may seem ordinary and even mundane, particularly during everyday walks with sparse human presence.
Forquet's photographs, even when devoid of people, serve as portraits, capturing the essence of the city's citizens. To explore more of her project, including various iterations of these images, such as video/still life versions, you can visit her Instagram. She has been actively exploring this theme using a mix of digital Canon, Mamiya RZ67 (film), and iPhone photography.
