By Alessandro Paiano

NASCONDINO (In Tension), 2024
Digital print of a 35 mm film negative
4 1/8 x 1 1/8 in. (10.48 x 2.86 cm)
The ID-sized self-portraits in Nascondino (In Tension) feature my head wrapped in wrapping paper, symbolizing the tension between visibility and concealment. This work probes the instinct to hide from external pressures and reflects my exploration of identity in relation to state authority, control, and personal freedom. By employing ID-sized imagery, the piece evokes the physical and metaphorical constraints of identification systems and the bureaucratic oversight that can limit personal agency. Through these portraits, I examine the dynamics of how individuals navigate their identities within structures that often restrict autonomy and demand compliance.

Alessandro Paiano began his academic journey studying the chemistry of fabrics and colors at the undergraduate level, later advancing to complete a degree in business and marketing. He co-founded a chocolate company and served as its export manager for a decade. During this time, Alessandro also dedicated himself to the study of acting, music, and art. In 2019, he earned a Graduate Diploma in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Art in London, and in July 2021, he graduated from the Stella Adler Acting Conservatoire in New York City. In his artistic practice, Alessandro works with video, performance, photography, and sound. He is drawn to elements of order, disorder, colors, performance, movements, energy, lights, surprises, bodies, words, textures, and shapes. Time, memory, change, rhythm, and sound are central themes in his work. Alessandro is currently pursuing an MFA at Goldsmiths. He can be found on instagram @alexpbickel

“Midway upon the journey of our life

I found myself within a forest dark,

For the straightforward pathway had been lost.”

— Dante Alighieri, Divina Commedia, The Inferno, Canto I.