Nothing is Missing — A Conversation with Sandra Lazzarini
Sandra
Lazzarini
"Nothing is missing."
Self-taught photographer. Surrealist at heart. Living and working between the sea and the mountains in northern Italy, where she finds beauty in the most banal objects — an apple, a flower, a kitchen glove.
"My biggest inspiration comes from surrealist painting. My god is Magritte. There is so much of his art in my living with photography."
Your greatest inspirations or influences?
My biggest inspiration comes from surrealist painting. My god is Magritte. There is so much of his art in my living with photography. There are also many photographers, even unknown ones, that I find on the web from which I draw inspiration or that I observe with curiosity.
Even objects, the most banal ones or those I find at home — such as an apple, a flower or a kitchen glove — are a source of inspiration for me. I like to see beauty where it is sought.
"I like to see beauty where it is sought."
Tell us a bit about your creative process?
My creative process starts from an idea that surfaces in my brain. The photo that I will eventually create appears to me as a unique image. I often take notes, because sometimes it can take several days before I actually manage to organise a set — and short memory makes me forget what I had in mind.
I like to shoot at home, where I don't have a real studio, but a quiet and bright space, suitable for creating.
Photography is something very instinctive for me. There is no particular project to which I am particularly attached. I don't work through photographic projects — rather I am very attached to certain photographs that I have made over time. A bond due to a particular place that inspired me, or a bond given by the emotion felt in the act of creating, or by the wellbeing or the change I was going through at that moment.
"I like to shoot at home, where I don't have a real studio, but a quiet and bright space. Photography is something very instinctive for me."
How has this year changed your creativity or how you see the world moving forward?
This past year has been very mixed from a creative point of view. I photograph when I feel good, when I feel calm and serene. Unfortunately, this year I had several moments of sadness, sometimes of apathy and sometimes of fear and anguish. So my creativity was very influenced by this unusual mood for me.
Many projects, especially exhibitions, unfortunately failed to go through, but I will recover as soon as possible. There were also some very beautiful days to remember, so not everything was lost.
I noticed that the creativity around me — both that of the people I know and that of social contacts — never stopped.
"I noticed that the creativity around me never stopped."
In her own words —
"Photography is my freedom. I have collaborated with several international magazines and I am happy that my photos are getting international exposure and am loving the feedback to my work."
Follow Sandra Lazzarini's work
Antakly Projects — originally Ninu Nina — has been discovering and archiving conversations with inspiring photographers, artists, writers and creatives from around the world since 2003. Sandra Lazzarini is exactly the kind of voice we look for: independent, instinctive, and deeply personal.
Explore the archive — search our interviews with photographers, fashion editors, artists, designers and more. Learn more about some of the most inspiring creative talent in the world.
Beauty is everywhere it is sought. ✦And for the personal rants on life, opinions you didn't ask for, and the occasional existential spiral: follow me on Substack.
