Lezione di nuoto

Lezione di Nuoto (2022) is inspired by a specific childhood drawing that, at the time, won an important prize and received significant recognition that however, for me today, it is tied to a deeper personal trauma.

The research behind this artwork explores the reenactment of childhood memories and past traumas, similar to Antillia, Toblach 2009 and Déjà vécu yet addressing a different issue. Its part of the MADE series.

In the original Lezione di Nuoto (2004), under my teacher’s insistence, the figures were predominantly light-skinned and uniform in body shape. Despite my own darker complexion, my art teacher insisted that I use only “Fleischfarbe” ("flesh color") to depict people, reinforcing the idea that my own skin tone was somehow incorrect. To be fair, at the time, no children's pastel sets included shades for darker skin tones.

Yet, despite these imposed limitations, the figures in my childhood drawing still played joyfully in the swimming pool and I believe they had some resilience in them. The 2022 version of Lezione di Nuoto aims to highlight that hidden happiness, the freshness and freedom of childhood—while also celebrating the joy I feel now in being able to depict figures however I choose, without restrictions.