Today we’d like to introduce you to Davida Carta.
Davida, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My name is Davida Carta, and I am originally from Milan, Italy. I moved to the United States in 2010 to pursue my career in photography. Since then, I moved around the East Coast 9 times in the past 8 years. In the summer of 2017 I started Underexposed Magazine, an online platform that promotes and shares fine art photography made by women and women identifying artists, internationally, and in January I graduated from the New Hampshire Institute of Art with a Master in Fine Art in Photography.
My personal work investigates the quotidian and the meaning of home. How do you define it? How do you create the feeling of home? I find that the details of the everyday life help create a sense of place and a much-desired feeling of home. The emotional quality of everyday objects emerges in a quiet contemplation and almost a meditative state.
I also love looking at other photographer’s work, and this brought me to curate a few exhibits online. I am looking forward to new collaborations and projects coming up this fall.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Struggles is an understatement. As an immigrant, it was very hard, especially the first few years. Being far away from my family and friends, my habits, culture and traditions; getting to know a new culture and way of living, waiting for my permit to work, learning the language, getting established as an artist and photographer… I encounter many challenges.
The US is an incredible Country, full of opportunities, but you have to be a go-getter and jump on the train when the opportunity comes. I am a determined person, (or, as someone would say… stubborn!). I decided to stay and make things work.
After 5 years of living in the US, I became a Citizen, and things started to be smoother, and fall into place. I was lucky to meet the right people that supported me along the way… it takes a village, right?
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I have always been amazed by the power of images and photography, and I was always looking at magazines, following photography blogs and websites, researching historic and contemporary photographers.
With time, what I noticed was that there was a lack of resources and opportunities for women photographers to connect, share and promote their work. Women don’t get nearly as much exposure in the art world as men, and specifically in photography. I started to think about how this could change.
One month immersed into my second MFA residency, I began to imagine that I wanted to create that space. A space for women and women identifying photographers. A space for emerging and established artists; a space that would create a community; a space that would help change the contemporary photography world.
This is how Underexposed Magazine was born. Since 2016 I’ve been receiving submissions from women photographers, interviewing them and sharing their work on the platform. Now you can see it here: https://underexposedmagazine.tumblr.com/.
What were you like growing up?
As a child, I was called “little frog” by my grandma, since I was always hopping here and there, never still. I maintained my curiosity and excitement for the world around me and canalized it into my photography work. I remember how I was attracted by insects, leaves, and the natural world.
Details were always something I noticed right away in a place. Seeing as the first since I used to experience the world. This reflects into the way and the subjects I photograph.
Now I am drawn to the “quotidian”, familiar objects and people, everyday life, and personal history. Those details become important to establish a sense of place and a sense of belonging. They are a sort of common thread between Italy and the United States.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.davidacarta.com ; www.underexposedmagazine.tumblr.com
- Email: davidacartaphotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: @davidacarta ; @zine_underexp
- Twitter: @davidacarta
Image Credit:
Davida Carta
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