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Italy has some of the most beautiful natural beaches in Europe, so I find it fascinating that so many holidaymakers choose to go to places like the one in this photograph: a strange manufactured island with plastic palm trees. This image is from a series, Leisure Time, that was important to me. I started it at a time when I had lots of personal problems, in 2006 and 2007. I needed to do something that would change my vision, my way of seeing the world, and even to some extent reinvent myself.
I have always been interested in landscapes, cities, and the relationship between people and the environments they inhabit. The theme I decided to work on was mass tourism. I wanted to open our eyes to this strange aspect of modern life: the fact that people prefer to spend time at some artificial park or beach, rather than visit a real one.
Many people want to go on holiday to a place where they know exactly what to expect, and are never going to be surprised or discover anything by chance. Many will also flock to sites they have seen other people post pictures of on Instagram – often distorting the reality of that location. They will take their pictures without taking the time to engage with the place. And today, even when tourists do visit a natural attraction, such as a mountain in the Alps, they expect to find something good to eat there, with music, and a high level of service. They want the same things we have in a city. But that isn’t the essence of mountains, which we should really visit to find refuge, calm and connection with the natural world.
I researched and photographed in holiday parks around the Tre Cime di Lavaredo mountains in the Dolomites, as well as on cruises – an increasingly popular type of holiday, especially for young people. An Italian cruise company, Costa, allowed me to spend a week on a ship, but when photographing the amusement parks, I mostly went in as just another tourist rather than as a journalist. I didn’t want to change the way people were behaving by appearing too much like I was doing professional work, so I’d dress in swimwear like them and do the same things.
At the time, I was using a quite heavy medium-format camera, which wasn’t the most convenient way to work. If I did the same project today, I’d probably use an iPhone – that would be the perfect way to achieve the pictures I wanted without drawing attention to myself. The approach I’ve taken with the brightness of my Leisure Time images is my way of accenting the strange, unnatural character of these places: everything is intended to be perfect and made in candy colours that appeal to children.
The woman in the black swimsuit is a real central presence – the way she’s standing in the fake sea and looking out over the artificial island, as if gazing at a scene of natural wonder. The photograph was taken either in the Mirabilandia water park or the Gardaland Resort, both in the north of Italy. The fact that I can’t tell exactly which without checking is perhaps revealing in itself. They’re not identical, but they have the same atmosphere. In effect, this park could have been anywhere.
Massimo Siragusa’s image is part of the World Press Photo 70th anniversary print sale, 17-26 November. His book Etna will be released in November by Cavallotto Editions.
Massimo Siragusa’s CV
Born: Sicily, 1958
High point: The four World Press awards I won in various categories. And each of the numerous books I have published.
Top tip: Be curious and read a lot.
