Intimate Strangers

The movie "Buffalo 66", written and directed by Vincent Gallo, tells the story of a released convict that kidnaps a teenage student on the way to visit his parents, in order to present her to them as his girlfriend. He forces her to pretend they're in a loving and intimate relationship.

In my work titled "intimate strangers" I suggest randomly chosen strangers to have an intimate acquaintance. I take photographs with them in their private space; their living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, back yards, and any place that's scorched with their personal memory. I request that they look at me, think about me, and remember me. The encounter is singular and short, and harbors a sensation of its infinite possibilities, a unique and magical moment overpowering the everyday stale and automated existence. In every encounter I stage an intimate moment, an artificial acquaintance. I'm looking for affection in estranged environments, occupying a contradicting position both distant and involved, repulsed and attracted, feeling a sense of belonging and of loneliness all at once, affection experiencing both empathy and a struggle of domination.

During the course of my work I was able to produce these intimate moments in various environments, situations and with different individuals, to create privacy everywhere and closeness with anyone. In a relative short period of time I've managed to create an industry of intimacy.

Intimate Strangers, The Beloved Daughter (no.1)
 

Intimate Strangers, The Beloved Daughter (no.2)
 

Intimate Strangers, The Beloved Daughter (no.3)
 

Intimate Strangers, Sisters (no.1)
 

Intimate Strangers, Sisters (no.2)
 

Intimate Strangers, A Stranger in the Park
 

Intimate Strangers, Picnic (no.1)
 

Intimate Strangers, No Title (no.1)
 

Intimate Strangers, The Girlfriend (no.1)
 

Intimate Strangers, The Girlfriend (no.2)
 

Intimate Strangers, The Girlfriend (no.3)
 

Intimate Strangers, The Beloved Daughter (no.4)
 

Intimate Strangers, No Title (no.2)
 

Intimate Strangers, Picnic (no.2)
 

Intimate Strangers, No Title (no.3)
 

Intimate Strangers, Sisters (no.3)
 

Intimate Strangers, Sisters (no.4)
 

Intimate Strangers, Summer Youth (no.1)
 

Intimate Strangers, Summer Youth (no.2)
 

Intimate Strangers, Youth
 

Intimate Strangers, Sisters (no.5)
 

Intimate Strangers, The Couple
 

Intimate Strangers, The Tourist
 

Intimate Strangers, Sisters (no.6)
 

Intimate Strangers, No Title (no.4)
 

Intimate Strangers, My Room
 

Intimate Strangers, Sisters (no.7)
 

Intimate Strangers, The Beloved Daughter (no.5)
 

Intimate Strangers, The Beloved Daughter (no.6)
 

Intimate Strangers, Mother and Wife (no.1)
 

Intimate Strangers, Mother and Wife (no.2)
 

Intimate Strangers, First Date
 

Intimate Strangers, Second Date
 

Intimate Strangers, The Lovers (no.1)
 

Intimate Strangers, The Lovers (no.2)
 

Intimate Strangers, The Lovers (no.3)
 

Intimate Strangers, The Lovers (no.5)
 

Intimate Strangers, Night Out (no.1)
 

Intimate Strangers, Night Out (no.2)
 

Intimate Strangers, Night Out (no.3)
 

Intimate Strangers, The Dancer