Pandora’s Box. A conceptual approach to the archive with Alba Zari

Why attend it

Does collecting archive images generate new meaning or is it just a repetition of what already exists?
What is the boundary between what is represented by photography and what is imagined by it?
How can we become co-creators of new visual narratives through our eyes? Join the workshop to discover how photography can become a tool for introspection, creativity and connection to your roots. Reflecting on the medium of photography During the workshop, we will reflect on the importance of photography as a medium of testimony and collection. Participants will be invited to consider the role of the camera as an instrument of memory and how the photographic gesture influences our perception of the past. Through the analysis and reinterpretation of archive images, reflections on the production and consumption of images in the family context will emerge. Conceptual and creative analysis In an analytical and conceptual context, the workshop will explore the delicate balance between reality and fantasy in visual narration. Participants will be asked to question how the power of the photographic medium can influence and transform their view of the past. The role of photography in the construction of family narratives will also be discussed: has it ever changed the course of your family history? And in what ways? My thoughtful book The aim of the laboratory is to create a digital photobook that combines archive material with self-portraiture and visual storytelling, exploring the boundary between documentation and imagination. The result will be a story in images, where past and present merge to reveal new meanings and familiar connections.

The portrait in reportage The different styles and uses of portraiture in photographic storytelling. Definition of personal projects to be produced independently.

How it works

Part 01 Theory – Archive Exploration and Mystery Search (2 hrs) – Saturday 5 October morning 11am-1pm and afternoon 2-4pm

11 am Alba Zari will be at Stage21 (Androna Campo Marzio 9c) The first part of the workshop focuses on the analysis of personal archive photographs. By choosing a significant event or family memory, participants will reflect on an unsolved enigma related to their own history, using the images as a gateway to mystery and discovery. This moment represents an investigative phase, where the photograph becomes a trace to decode and a means to reconsider the past. ———-

Part 02 –Theory – Self-Portrait and Representation – Sunday 6 October afternoon 3-6 pm. In the second phase, the exploration shifts to creative and symbolic reinterpretation.Through self-portraiture, participants will step into the shoes of their own ancestor, representing their personal vision of a family member.This exercise aims to create a link between current and past identity, exploring how family histories influence the present. Photography here acts as a bridge between generations, offering new possibilities for dialogue and understanding.

Alba Zari – Teacher

Alba Zari, a photographer and documentary filmmaker, she was born in Thailand where she lived until the age of 8. In Italy, she lived first in Trieste, then in Bologna where she graduated from DAMS in cinematography and then specialised in photography and visual design at NABA, New Academy of Fine Arts in Milan, continuing her studies in documentary photography at the International Center of Photography in New York. In his works, there is all his reflection and artistic sensitivity and an approach to the complexity of the human mind and a constant dialogue between past and present, memory and innovation, human and AI, truth and authenticity.

Distinguishing marks

The workshop is inspired by the myth of Pandora, a symbol of confrontation with the unknown and the consequences of curiosity. Just as Pandora opens the box revealing evils but also hope, participants will explore memories, secrets and unresolved family stories through archive images. This journey will lead to the discovery of unknown aspects of one’s own history, deepening the link between past and present. Photography thus becomes a tool for introspection and rediscovery, offering a space for creative reflection to understand the hidden meaning behind the images and to dialogue with one’s roots. At the end of the workshop an introduction on the topic of Systemic and Family Constellations by Samantha Germani will be offered, followed by a brief activation addressed to the group with the aim of integrating and supporting the work carried out on the topic of the family archive. Samantha Germani is a facilitator of Systemic and Family Constellations, currently trainee as a Socio Constructivist Systemic Counsellor at Pratiche Sistemiche Milano. She has gained solid experience in the social and educational sector, working with adults, children and entire families, with the aim of promoting wellbeing and cohesion.