“Visible repairs”
University of Wales Trinity Saint David (United Kingdom) Licence
Ada Marino
Image from “Visible repairs” project by Ada Marino
Biography
Website: https://adamarino.com
Ada Marino is an Italian visual artist based in Wales. Working at the intersection between photography and installation, her practice focuses on past events of her subjects, their memories and traumas that re-emerge and manifest as a form of cynical surrealism. Often, her disturbing imagery attempts to conceptualise the repulsion/attraction effect in an attempt to reappraise notions of ugliness. As a woman, mother and visual activist, Marino's practice focuses specifically on women, representing and documenting their experiences celebrating complexity, power, resilience and beauty in the truth and imperfections of life fragments.
The project
This project was inspired by research into Ffotogallery’s archives, particularly images of the Welsh valleys and the presence of Italian migrants who opened cafés, ice cream parlours, and fish and chip shops.<br />Visible Repairs introduces the idea of 'The Welsh Dream,' a new take on the ideals of freedom and opportunity often linked to the 'American Dream.' While the American Dream focused on individual success, it has also led to a society with deep inequality. Reflecting on personal history, I explored my father's migrant journey through his letters to my mother. He travelled from Naples to Hollywood, California in search of opportunity, but eventually settled in South Wales. Dylan Thomas once said: "Thank GOD for the Italians, Wales wouldn't have been the same without them" highlighting how different cultures have helped shape Wales as it is today.
Image from “Visible repairs” project by Ada Marino
Image from “Visible repairs” project by Ada Marino
This project also looks at the stereotypes of Welsh women, like the figure of the 'Welsh Mam,' known for her roles in domestic service and matriarchy. This limited view has left little space for more diverse roles for women. These ideas resonate with my own background, influenced by both Welsh and Italian cultural expectations for women. By blending elements from both cultures, this work draws connections between adaptation, assimilation, and integration of immigrants. It aims to bring forgotten histories to light.At its heart, it’s about reclaiming identity and embracing self-discovery, showing how culture, gender, and personal experiences shape our journeys in new environments. This process opens up a conversation between past and present, helping us reflect, heal, and find empowerment.