Intense Sensations

The photographic project Animas intended to represent the powerful and arcane impulse that these inhabitants have with their masks, which goes beyond mere theatricality and folklore.

Since the start of my research, the presence of these masked characters, called Animas, has aroused such intense sensations and emotions in me that, above all, I needed to understand this culture that is as complex as it is fascinating. I needed time. I had to give before I could take. An initial phase of study, lasting around six years, was necessary for the gestation of this project. Between 2015 and 2021, I traveled to the region several times, taking part in various apotropaic rituals, locating places and ancient masks in over twenty villages, interviewing, and questioning a large number of people, with whom I established a relationship of sincerity and sharing. I was thus able to gather precious material for the realization of this project.