Connections exist among all forms of life, allowing us to discern the synchrony and diachrony of animal, human, and plant life paths. Timelines, each following cycles of varying durations, converge in the present dimension. Amidst the unsettling repercussions of climate change disrupting the planet’s balance, our journey to an untouched region revealed remarkable natural resilience. This research sparks a short circuit between the seemingly perpetual existence of ancestral nature and the more apparent transience of humans, prompting reflection on the perception of change, birth, mutation, and death.

Umbria stands as a harsh and pure land, unveiling pristine forests and centuries-old human existence, where time seems to have its deepest roots, allowing the perception of a rare original balance. Here, the echoes of ancestors persist, and the maxim ‘nothing comes from nothing’ holds true. Focusing on simple existences and documenting these microcosms serves as an instrument to raise awareness about a different approach to growth and development, fostering reflection on new perspectives to shape the future.

Jean-Marc Caimi and Valentina Piccinni have been collaborating since 2013 on documentary and personal photography projects. Their focus centres on contemporary subjects, with a particular emphasis on the human dimensions of each narrative. Their works have gained global recognition and are regularly featured in press and media outlets including The Guardian, Die Zeit, Financial Times, Geo, Der Spiegel, Politico, Le Monde, Libération, Vogue, L’Espresso, Internazionale, Wired, GQ, Newsweek, The Sunday Times, The Atlantic, and numerous others. The duo has earned several awards, such as the 2023 Revela’t Prize, the 2021 Planches Contact+Photo4Food, the ISPA Award for best photo story, The Sistema Festival “Reset” Award, the 2020 PHmuseum Of Humanity Grant in the solo show category, the 2019 Sony World Photography Award in the category “Discovery”, the 2018 Istanbul Photo Book Award, and the 2016 Gomma Grant for best B&W documentary work. Their works have been exhibited across Europe and Asia in galleries and festivals including the Biennale Für Aktuelle Fotogra e, Delhi Photo Festival, Lumix Festival, Fotogra a Europea, Phest, Fotodoks and Voies Off. With a portfolio of six published books, their most recent releases include “Fastidiosa (This Land Is My Land)” (for the British publishher Overlapse), a six years long term project focusing on the Xylella plant pest in the South of Italy, and “En Présence De L’Absence” (for the Éditions Bessard). They have previously published a trilogy on cities in transition, encompassing “Güle Güle” (André Frère Éditions) focusing on Istanbul, “Forcella” centered on Naples, and “RHOME”, which was a finalist for the PHotoESPANA Best Photobook of the Year 2019. “Güle Güle” received a special mention at the Kassel Dummy Book Award 2019, was a finalist at Luma Rencontres Dummy Book Award in Arles, and was shortlisted for the Arles Author Book Award 2020 and Prix Nadar 2020.