Ramona Zordini is a Brescia based photographer who works with cyanotype, the art of using UV lights or traditionally sunlight to print photographs. As Zordini is attracted to the physical limitations of a two-dimensional photograph, she began to naturally layer her cyanotype prints. Doing so allowed her to discover her signature technique of peeling back and tearing apart individual layers to allow viewers to gaze into images on the previous layer.
Over the last few years, Zordini has been using this technique to create portraits of people from all walks of life and to even create her own self-portraits. She intentionally peels back layers of their body parts to reveal the organs contained within their body, and the organs themselves have been photographed from objects put on display at the Natural History Museum of Florence. By creating these portraits, Zordini is highlighting the humanity shared between these different people.
She is showcasing how even if people come from different genders, different sexualities, different races and more, they are still inherent skin, bones and organs. Poetically, the fact that she works with cyanotype also shows how everyone living under the sun, every single human being all live with similar beating hearts. Alternatively, these works of art help to show how different medical conditions can affect people despite their backgrounds, calling for a more democratic medical world where everyone without exception can have access to proper care and treatment. This is why the work that Zordini does is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Reduced Inequalities and Good Health And Well-Being.
Ramona Zordini’s layered cyanotype portraits offer a profound meditation on the shared humanity that unites all people, regardless of gender, race or background. By peeling back layers of the human form to reveal the organs within, she reminds viewers that beneath external differences, everyone is composed of the same essential elements. Her work not only celebrates this universal connection but also highlights the importance of equitable access to healthcare, reinforcing the need for a more inclusive and compassionate medical world. Through her unique artistic process, Zordini powerfully uses art to inspire a deeper understanding of our collective existence.
Find out more about the layered cyanotype portraits by Ramona Zordini and her other pieces on her website www.ramonazordini.com or Instagram @ramonazordini.