RAW 2021 – HIDDEN IDENTITIES – NAÏVETÉ: HIDDEN IDENTITIES

A solo photography exhibition by Romana Rostolis

Curated by Valeria Cirone

The truly difficult—and indeed incredible—thing is to let go of the need to be perfect and begin the work of becoming oneself.

Who am I? What are my desires and needs? What am I seeking?

At least once in our lives, each of us has asked ourselves these questions, finding answers that are more or less satisfying, altering them as we evolve, or searching for ones that feel more fitting and consistent. When we interact with others, we are willing to reveal certain things about ourselves while keeping others hidden; we share what we know while remaining silent about other matters.

Romana’s photographs guide us into our own emotional window, touching upon the public, blind, private, and unknown areas of the self.

The public area refers to what we know about ourselves and what others know too—the manifest, illuminated side we constantly put out into the world, encompassing both our positive and negative traits. The blind area refers to aspects of ourselves that we do not recognize but that are visible to others—traits they observe in our behavior and mannerisms. The private area refers to what we know about ourselves but others do not; focusing on these aspects allows us to reflect on what we truly wish to conceal and what we are defending ourselves against.

Romana’s keen, meticulous, and empathetic eye will explore, above all, the unknown area—a realm containing aspects that are entirely unfamiliar to both ourselves and others.

It is here that the deepest layers of our being reside—layers that are, for the most part, unconscious. Bringing some of these aspects to light allows us to discover new facets of ourselves, connect with unexplored inner resources, or become aware of the emotional patterns we enact and carry into our relationships.

We often find ourselves reflecting on parts of ourselves that have remained unexplored, set aside, or hidden away for fear of judgment by others.

This can be daunting—much like the prospect of asking ourselves who we truly are and what we genuinely desire in life. Self-discovery can be frightening, yet it is also the most extraordinary journey we can undertake: a quest to find aspects of ourselves that are ready to be let go, as well as wonders and resources waiting to be discovered.

The exhibition is part of Rome Art Week (RAW 2021), an annual event dedicated to showcasing contemporary art in all its forms within the Eternal City, highlighting the coexistence of the ancient and the contemporary, and exploring the new facets and faces that Rome has to offer. Admission is free, though entry is regulated to manage capacity; face masks and hand sanitization are mandatory in compliance with legal requirements.

Exhibition dates: October 28–31, 2021

11:30 AM – 7:00 PM – Free admission