Introducing: Martina Corà from Milan on her fantastic conceptual photography

Date
27 March 2014

Martina Corà is a Milan-based photographer whose brilliant, concept-led photographic projects set her far apart from the crowd. We were utterly taken in by her semi-animated GIFs and her eye for a sweet shot, so we caught up with her to find out how she goes about her working day. Read on to find out about the angst she gets when she’s away from the internet for too long, how to assist a food stylist and how interning for herself would make taking selfies that much easier!

Above

Martina Corà: Quadri Cinesi che si Muovono

Where do you work?

I work at home mostly, and I spend a looooooot of time in front of screens: laptop, camera display, my mobile and the other computer that I use as a TV. Fortunately when I actually get around to doing the job I’m mainly outdoors, so I can balance my thirst for technology with my need for oxygen. All of this tends to happen in the Milan area of north Italy.

How does your working day start?

With a nice, tempting glass of water. My mother told me that’s the first thing you should do in the morning, as apparently water really wakes your organs up. Then, depending on the schedule of the day, I’ll either be shooting corporate photography for a company, or I’ll be in the studio, where I work as an assistant to a food photographer, which means I start eating at 9am and never stop! Otherwise I’ll be spending time at home working on Photoshop, surfing the internet, listening to a lot of music or chatting with sassy friends.

How do you work and how has that changed?

As far as my approach to “research work” is concerned, I think I’m definitely leaning towards a more digital direction, and gradually saying goodbye to analogue photography. I’m really into new topographic landscape photography and I have been for quite a while now, but I’m also very curious about all the online and media art stuff that’s going on, and the parallels that can be created between those two worlds. I’ve noticed that I tend to be very serious and a little bit melancholic when I shoot analogue, while I’m often in much more of a light, humorous mood when approaching digital experiments. I guess I need this kind of balance to keep me somewhat satisfied with my work.

Where would we find you when you’re not at work?

During the week, mainly on the internet! The rest of the time I’d probably be nervous on a train or walking in the streets very, very quickly. After a certain hour, if I’m not at home, I’ll definitely be out drinking nervously and quickly because I’m not on the internet. In the weekend I try to get out of town as much as possible, discovering the “life away from the keyboard” with my boyfriend.

Would you intern for yourself?

Yes. No. I don’t know! I think it would be rather awkward for me to have an intern, because I’m shy and bossy at the same time. But then again, it would be so much easier to take selfies! I’m gonna say yes.

Above

Martina Corà: Quadri Cinesi che si Muovono

Above

Martina Corà: Ooooolympics

Above

Martina Corà: Ooooolympics

Above

Martina Corà: Magno Vacuum

Above

Martina Corà: Magno Vacuum

Above

Martina Corà: Magno Vacuum

Share Article

About the Author

Maisie Skidmore

Maisie joined It’s Nice That fresh out of university in the summer of 2013 as an intern before joining full time as an Assistant Editor. Maisie left It’s Nice That in July 2015.

It's Nice That Newsletters

Fancy a bit of It's Nice That in your inbox? Sign up to our newsletters and we'll keep you in the loop with everything good going on in the creative world.