Marco Serventi

Marco Serventi is an Italian photographer whose work explores the concept of "home" through an anthropological lens. With a background shaped by extensive time abroad, his projects examine the way people create belonging in vastly different landscapes, physically, culturally, and emotionally. Often straddling the line between documentary and art, his practice centers on trust, intimacy, and ethical engagement with the people and places he portrays. His recent work focuses on remote communities and their symbiotic relationships with their environments, revealing deeply human stories through quiet, powerful imagery.

In conversation with Ebe Collective during the exhibition Oltre la pietra” at Castelgrande, Bellinzona.

What is the purpose in your work?

I’ve always been very attracted and intrigued by the concept of “home” and by the way people live. I’m not sure why. Perhaps it stems from my search for home.
I’ve lived abroad quite a bit, and I find it fascinating how we, as humans, live in such diverse ways,
whether by choice or due to circumstances (...). All of this sparks many questions, all born from this initial curiosity. I always try to step into other people’s lives, and it’s truly an honor when someone gives you access to their world. Of course, there’s also a moral and ethical aspect to it. In every situation, you have to ask yourself whether you’re doing it for the right reasons (...). I think this curiosity of mine is always rooted in the human experience, which remains my top priority. If there are times when people aren’t comfortable being photographed, that’s okay too: photography is almost like a byproduct of this anthropological exploration.
For me, photography is a broad practice. There’s a part of it that can be called art, though that definition is subjective, and some photographs are definitely not artistic. I think I exist somewhere between the two, and I’m not entirely sure how to define my work, and maybe that’s okay. I believe the role of the artist is incredibly important. At the end of the day, we humans live through stories. In every area of life, stories are what move us forward. Artists who tell their own stories or those of others are storytellers, and I think they are essential. Especially in a society and historical moment where stories, whether difficult, hopeful, or deeply personal, help us connect with one another. I believe we really need that.

Tell us about the project you exhibited at Oltre la pietra

The project I’m presenting is called Elsewhere. It’s a project I worked on while living in Australia, documenting a community that lives in the middle of the Australian desert. The town originated as a mining settlement, and over time, people began occupying the abandoned opal mines. To protect themselves from the heat and due to the lack of building materials in the desert, they live beneath the surface. I was very intrigued by how they built a sense of community and belonging in such an isolated, barren place, and how they relate to their surroundings, not only in terms of survival but also in terms of symbiosis. It’s a symbiotic relationship with the rock itself, which ties into the title of this event Oltre la Pietra, “Beyond the Stone”. The stone, while austere and part of a harsh climate, is also a source of protection from the elements. I found this relationship with the elements, and with each other in such a remote place, really compelling.
The context of this castle is already naturally very evocative, even without adding anything to it. I think my photographs pair well with both the setting and the theme. My goal was to exhibit this work in places that are either similar to or in stark contrast with the desert (...). Here, with the stone, there’s a kind of harmony that’s just as interesting. I hope it can prompt reflection on how we live, how others live, and help create a connection with the other side of the world. I’m happy to be able to engage with other artists through this exhibition space, both artistically through my photographs and personally on a human level.