Un guanto precipitò
Da una mano desiderata
A toccare il pavimento del mondo
In una pista affollata

– Francesco De Gregori –

Gloves are ordinary objects found in every culture, and over the centuries they have taken on various symbolic meanings. One aspect that has always fascinated me is their connection to mystery, anonymity, and self-expression: gloves hide and protect the hands and fingers—often associated with our identity—yet at the same time, their appearance can reveal something about our personality.

In 2013, I was living in Paris and would often walk long distances across the city. Every day I came across lost or forgotten gloves that caught my attention, so I began documenting them. This gave rise to the series touch/tact, an ongoing work composed of hundreds of photographs of abandoned gloves found on the street, along with the gloves themselves. Each glove was photographed and then collected, washed, and stored together with the corresponding photo, which records the geographical coordinates of where it was found.

The installation creates a sort of mapping of loss and recovery, offering us the chance—through these “fragments” of intimacy—to form a fleeting and accidental connection with strangers. The title touch/tact refers both to the “encounter” with the other and to the “delicacy” required when entering into a relationship with someone’s private and intimate sphere.