Photography by Rita Lino
How true can I be? I used to be nothing but a true, real, spontaneous sort of free mind. I used to say I had a Masters degree in not giving a shit. That child, a wild child in the last few years, became more timid and scared. I started finding it very hard to be true in my reality and living in society. Being true without the fear of losing one’s job, of not having enough money to pay my bills – or somehow of what others think – it becomes harder to live together. These days, I try to find that balance between the true and the staged – at least as I see life – that big ‘stage’ where we can act and be whatever we want. Seeing it like that somehow is less boring, and being ‘fake’ is just a concept – depending on the reality. So I guess it can be true depending on the reality that I’m living.
Photography by Rita Lino
Do I feel like the truth? I feel like my work, my personal work, is the only truth I have been living. When does the truth get me into trouble? When I cannot see the difference between truth and reality. “Reality tells us about the real nature of a particular thing, experience, existence and the like. Truth tells about the fact that has been invented or experimented.” Trouble comes when I am selfish enough to think that only my reality exists and I don’t see what’s ‘behind’ my truth. How much truth can I take? My threshold is pretty high on this one. I’m trying not to become cynical but I think I can take a lot. Maybe not the truth, but reality. I think these two words continue to ‘dance’ in a strange loop. Is the pleasure true? If truth is not pleasure, what can it be? I hope it is, I hope I am making sense…
Photography by Rita Lino
Rita Lino’s new book ‘Replica’ is now available here.
For more of her work, visit ritalino.com