Uno, nessuno ... mille
At the beginning of January 2024, the project to take 1000 portraits began in Rome's Metro B, on the Piazza Bologna - Tiburtina route. It all stems from an old intention of drawing faces on the way to and from work, with the aim of keeping the hand in exercise. The first attempts revealed many peculiarities that made the exercise interesting. The precariousness of balance, the crowding, the choice of the subject and the very short time available to outline it in the notebook were obstacles to overcome almost as if they were a pastime. But then I discovered the intensity of entering into deep contact with the face of the person I was portraying in 100 seconds....
Tullio Pericoli in 2003 answered in this way to the question:
What drives you to portray the face of another human being?
"For those who do it, as for those who see it, the portrait presupposes a more advanced reading of the facial features than any other form of communication, whether photographic or cinematographic. The word itself already has to be drawn, as if you had to steal something from that face to show it to others. When faced with the idea of having a portrait taken, there is always a form of resistance, as if the subject were exposing himself to a more exposed reading of himself, almost a complaint. I did an experiment some time ago : I went to friends and acquaintances and proposed to take their portrait starting from their indications. Why I wear a beard, how I think of myself, how I see myself... Initially an enthusiastic acceptance, then the escape, marked by panic exposure was too strong."
