Presence

Long time ago, fear and superstition shrouded many Italian towns, giving rise to ruthless witch hunts targeting women—healers, outsiders, or anyone who defied social norms.

Accused of witchcraft, these women endured brutal persecution, leaving behind a legacy of violence that deeply marked communities and still lingers in the forgotten corners of these towns.

The hysteria that took hold in these towns wasn’t an isolated phenomenon; it grew out of a deep-rooted fear of the unknown. 

Ancient pagan rituals, folk healing practices, and women who dared to live outside societal norms became targets of suspicion.

Rumors spread of women casting curses, causing illness, stealing livestock, or kidnapping children, allegations that masked deeper anxieties about famine, disease, and social disorder.

Collective paranoia, manipulated by local powers and the Church, spiraled into violent witch hunts, leading to torture, trials, and executions. 

The women who were executed were often healers or simply outsiders—victims of a system that sought control through fear and persecution.

Today, these towns honor their pasts through festivals like Triora’s Strigora, a celebration of the legends, where modern spiritualism mingles with ancient Italian traditions. 

I explored the mystical and the arcane, creating a dialogue between the fear and reverence of ancient esotericism and the uncertainties of the modern world.

In this context, the shadow of the accused witches intertwines with the shadows of contemporary anxieties, seeking to unveil the tension between forgotten traditions and the relentless push toward modernity,

a reflection of how the past continues to shape the present.