‘The woman in the black swimsuit seems to be gazing out at a scene of natural wonder. But she’s standing in a fake sea – and looking at an artificial island’
I
taly has some of the most beautiful natural beaches in Europe, so I find it fascinating that so many holidaymakers choose to go to places like the one in this photograph: a strange manufactured island with plastic palm trees. This image is from a series, Leisure Time, that was important to me. I started it at a time when I had lots of personal problems, in 2006 and 2007. I needed to do something that would change my vision, my way of seeing the world, and even to some extent reinvent myself.
I have always been interested in landscapes, cities, and the relationship between people and the environments they inhabit. The theme I decided to work on was mass tourism. I wanted to open our eyes to this strange aspect of modern life: the fact that people prefer to spend time at some artificial park or beach, rather than visit a real one.
Many people want to go on holiday to a place where they know exactly what to expect, and are never going to be surprised or discover anything by chance. Many will also flock to sites they have seen other people post pictures of on Instagram – often distorting the reality of that location. They will take their pictures without taking the time to engage with the place. And today, even when tourists do visit a natural attraction, such as a mountain in the Alps, they expect to find something good to eat there, with music, and a high level of service. They want the same things we have in a city. But that isn’t the essence of mountains, which we should really visit to find refuge, calm and connection with the natural world.
