ForumPhilo | Nostalgia

Forum Philo - Le Monde / Le Mans

2023

BEHIND THE SCENE

Emmanuel La Parra and the team of the Association Forum Philo Le Monde, invited me to work for the Philo Forum 2023 which took place in Le Mans on 24-25-26 November 2023.

The theme of the Festival was:

The actuality of nostalgia.

MY IDEA

I focused, first of all, on the concept of nostalgia.

How to communicate this ephemeral feeling?

I first thought of clouds and water because nostalgia is something that envelops and permeates us when we are struck by it.

But it didn’t end here.

The subtitle of the 2023 edition of the Philo Forum is: Would tomorrow be better?

The image, therefore, for me, developed with a great symmetry: one part would call the other.

Yesterday would call tomorrow.

Therefore, I developed the sketch with a great symmetry: one part would recalled the other.

Yesterday would called tomorrow.

The act of immersion had to be increasingly simple, making sure that the protagonist had a finger immersed in water and looked at a “new” sun: tomorrow. The protagonist need to be as minimally characterized as possible.

Obviously, I gave voice to the color: I let it speak as usual.

The image was also used in 2024 by Gallimard Publisher for the cover of the publication related to the Forum.

Internazionale | Travellers

The Yew tree

Internazionale

In the tradition of the Travellers, graveyards are not just places of mourning but profound spaces of memory and connection, deeply interwoven into everyday life.

Oein DeBhairduin, an activist and writer from the Traveller community, shares the poignant story of unbaptized children being laid to rest in unconsecrated ground, and why some graves remain unmarked, in Tuam, western Ireland, and beyond.

DeBhairduin is known for his work preserving Traveller culture and his efforts in challenging social issues faced by the community. His storytelling brings to life the deep connections that Travellers have with memory, family, and the land.
As published in Internazionale

This text is from Oein DeBhairduin’s collection Why the Moon Travels, which highlights traditional stories of the Irish Traveller community.

MY IDEA

My idea was to replicate the silence surrounding this memory of the cemetery corner dedicated to the children.

The small white figure walking through the green grass is almost suspended, and the grass creates a quiet space around it. I also worked a lot on the character of the child because I wanted it to appear small and walking with a thoughtful expression.

I also found some news reports, like the one at this link from The Independent.ie and from the Guardian which discuss the deaths of children in Irish mother and baby homes.

A Forest Tale | A Personal Project

a personal project

A FOREST TALE

These images were created for an exhibition held in Milan at the Galleria Il Vicolo. It was widely visited and deeply moved those who attended.
Here are some references to the exhibition.

My intent in creating these images was to give visitors that sense of silence and immersion one experiences when walking in nature, wrapped in—one is certain of it—that mystery that does not immediately unravel. One is being watched, yet unaware of by what or by whom.

BEHIND THE SCENE

The Forest is, of course, the stage for a thousand adventures, for countless tales, both folkloric and modern. It is also a metaphor for our unconscious, where our deepest inner images reside.

These images shape us, and it is with them that we engage in dialogue—or choose to flee—when what we see, or those we encounter, do not seem particularly friendly.

My project tells something about this.

MY IDEA

Everyone, on their journey toward themselves, inevitably gets lost at some point, whether they want to or not.
The “straight path” fades into the “Dark Forest” of Dantean memory.

What we thought we knew about ourselves is no longer clear, or at least, it no longer fits. And that is where the adventure begins.

The Forest, in this story I wish to tell, is the place where these encounters take shape.
Each encounter corresponds to a character, and each character carries a message.

Below, you can see a selection of ink pieces.

This series consists of 27 black and white ink drawings, created using Rohrer & Klingner Zeichentusche – Schwarz (black Indian ink) on Canson Moulin du Roy 300 gsm paper (100% cotton, cold-pressed).

The artworks come in two sizes — 50×70 cm and 35×50 cm — and feature expressive, high-contrast marks made with brushes and nibs, exploring composition and texture in a monochrome palette.

This project is looking for a publisher or another opportunity to come to life and find its audience.

For inquiries about the book project or for any proposals related to it, feel free to reach out at chiara@chiaradattola.com.

Internazionale | Space Debris

Space debris

Internazionale

Satellites are polluting the stratosphere

In January, over a hundred telecommunications satellites disintegrated in Earth’s atmosphere, vaporizing as they fell toward the planet at speeds of about eight kilometers per second. These controlled reentries are designed to prevent defunct satellites from cluttering valuable orbital space or crashing uncontrollably. Since 2022, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has required all telecommunications satellites to leave orbit within five years to reduce space debris, with similar regulations in place elsewhere.

However, this “planned demise” has unintended consequences. As they burn up, satellites release metal particles—such as aluminum, copper, lithium, and niobium—into the stratosphere, the atmospheric layer between 10 and 50 kilometers above Earth’s surface.

Here’s the article as published in Internazionale.

Originally published in The Economist.

MY IDEA

This is one of my favorite images I’ve ever create for Internazionale.

I have always been fascinated by comets, and as usual, I wanted to give this image a poetic touch. The little house, partially hidden in the darkness, seems almost shy as it emerges from the shadows. It is unaware of the condition of the comet passing by—a comet dirtied by various debris it has collected on its journey through space.

I love comets, and I drew inspiration from a book mentioned on Public Domain Review: The Comet Book from 1587. The book is available online through this link from the University of Kassel Library.

ForumPhilo | My dear enemy

With or without?

This is the poster from the Philo Forum | This year’s Le Monde Le Mans.

The topic was challenging: Never without my enemy?
Do we always need an enemy? And what role does it play in our lives?

These were the questions I found myself asking. I began to imagine how the two sides — opponent and self — actually intertwine.

An enemy, whether internal or external, is part of who we are. I thought of it as “a common root” a shared idea, with feelings that are both connected and in contrast.

I reflected on how much our “opponent” mirrors us, and from there, my work began to take shape. In any dialogue, neither side ever remains fully itself; they inevitably influence one another.

Illustration West n.63 | Bataille d’eau #01

Batailles d'eau #01

Le Monde

These are the six illustrations created for the series Les Batailles d’eau, published in Le Monde – Summer Debates section.

All the images are based on six different proposals gathered by Claire Legros. They highlight the importance of water reservoirs, rivers, lakes, and the right to clean water, as well as the battles undertaken by people from various countries around the world to protect these resources and this fundamental right. One of the articles specifically addresses Bioregionalism.

BEHIND THE SCENE

The first of the two images depicts the resistance of the people of Cochabamba in Bolivia, who, in 2000, rose up in what became known as “The Water War” against the privatization of drinking water by multinational corporations.
The illustration I envisioned to accompany this story portrays two figures as tall as the Bolivian mountains, “embracing” and “welcoming” a river of water flowing through their hands.
This gesture does not symbolize “ownership” but “belonging”: belonging to a land, being part of it, safeguarding it, and protecting a right as a living entity. This, in essence, is the subtext of all the testimonies documented by Legros.

The image has been selected for the Illustration West No. 63 competition, organized by the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, and will be exhibited in their gallery starting in March 2025.

In the previous edition, another illustration of mine, centered on the themes of friendship and the metamorphosis of social relationships, was selected.

You can find HERE the entire project, showcased at the Niemeyer Library in Le Havre during the “Quand la presse s’illustre” exhibition.

For this second contribution, Daniela Festa, a jurist and geographer, explores the theme of water as a Common Good, following the definition established by jurist Stefano Rodotà.
In 2007, the center-left government led by Secretary Romano Prodi appointed a ministerial commission to reform the Italian Civil Code, aiming to better categorize public goods and services, and above all, to safeguard essential resources from the wave of privatization.

Festa’s intervention highlights the crucial role of citizens and their active engagement in supporting democracy.

My contribution, in this context, reflects the idea of protecting and ensuring the responsible use of a common good.

The faucet is opened by citizens for citizens, symbolizing use and respect for all, as well as for the resource itself.

Award: 11th Hiiibrand Illustration Contest

AT NIGHT

PERSONAL PROJECT and award

MY IDEA

I’ve long wanted to tell the story of what happens at night.

Night is another world—one that has been told a thousand times in many different ways. During sleep—at least for those who do sleep—it’s a kind of surrender, a crossing over, even if only for a few hours. And for those who can’t sleep, it remains a strange place, where time no longer follows the rules we know…

The story unfolds in an intimate way, circling back gently into the life of the protagonist—ending with a quiet, beautiful truth about himself.

I greatly enjoyed creating the two illustrations for Maize Magazine, which were inspired by the thoughts of Professor Lorenzo Magnani. The project is still a work in progress, but the storytelling is complete. The contest recognizes it in the children’s book category.

So, I revisited the character and developed it further, thinking that, due to its nature, the Night somehow belonged to it. I focused on studying its movement, making it my own, and imagining its story. It doesn’t have a name yet, but I know where it lives. The building I depict next to the Moon in the upcoming illustrations is the one I live in—a place very dear to me.

The illustrations are digital collage.

I deeply love stories that come from within, because true changes happen only in depth. All my work increasingly aims to tell those changes in an engaging and at the same time foundational way, so that we can rewrite our “inner mythologies.”

Every one of my projects undergoes a long gestation, in contrast to our world, which craves easy, consumable products. I hope that what I create is not easily “consumable” but can be enjoyed multiple times and reveals something new each time it is seen.

THE AWARD

It is with great pride that I announce that I am among the winners of the 11th Hiiibrand Illustration Contest, in the category of unpublished children’s book projects. I participated with my personal project, At Night.

The opening ceremony of the exhibition took place on December 14th, 2024, at the Sky Culture and Art Center in Hangzhou, China.

11th Hiiibrand Illustration Contest

This project is looking for a publisher or another opportunity to come to life and find its audience.

For inquiries about the book project or for any proposals related to it, feel free to reach out at chiara@chiaradattola.com.

Editions du Ricochet | Animaux magiques

le livre des

animaux magiques

Le Livres des Animaux magiques | 6 +

with Fleur Daugey, published by Le Editions du Ricochet

I conceived this book project based on my studies in anthropology and folklore. The research I have conducted, which has always fascinated me, led me to explore and narrate the “magical powers” of animals.

BEHIND THE SCENE

Animals have always been part of stories across all cultures. Each country has its own references. The idea behind this project is to provide insights into the civilizations from which these myths originate, visually distinguishing them and narrating the magical powers of each featured animal.

MY IDEA

I’ve structured each page in two parts, balancing text and image. The main illustration offers a poetic and immersive experience, designed to help young readers remember the story. However, this book isn’t just for children—it’s meant to be a cross-generational journey through myth and imagination.

The illustrations are digital collages, rich in vibrant colors and layered textures. They aim to evoke the magical atmosphere of each culture, guiding the reader into a world where every animal reveals a hidden, powerful story.

Internazionale | The Free Dogs of India

The Free Dogs

Internazionale

The Free Dogs of India

“Despite the need to find their own food, water, and shelter — and their exposure to mostly human-made harms like traffic and cruelty — India’s street dogs live autonomous and peaceful lives.”

By Krithika Srinivasan

Here is the original article, as published in Aeon Magazine.

Here is the article in italian, as published in Internazionale.

Gira la giostra

gira la

giostra

2014 – Panini editore (IT) Age 0 – 5

Written by Roberto Piumini, it is a book with a circular structure that can be opened like an accordion so that children can fully immerse themselves in it.