The Nagas are a people of Mongoloid stock, with numerous tribes
who share similar cultures and traditions inhabiting the
mountainous region of the Indian state of Nagaland, with a
substantial presence in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, plus small
populations in Assam and north-west Myanmar, too.
Naga heritage is celebrated during colourful festivals: Hornbill is
the Nagaland state government's ten-day festival organised every
December, when Naga tribes converge wearing their traditional
costumes and finery for tourists.
The majestic hornbill is a Nagaland emblem representing loyalty,
as the female bird stays in the high nest, relying on her male to
feed her. In the past, the right to use hornbill feathers had to be
earned, and only those that excelled in warfare received the
honour to decorate themselves so.
Originally from Padova, Italy, Cecilia received two MA’s in economics. After spending a decade working in the banking industry as an auditor, she moved from Italy to UK to pursue her passion in visual arts. She formally trained in photography, graduating in 2014 from Spéos Photographic Institute.
Growing up in the remarkably preserved medieval town of Padova, Cecilia has been breathing art since she was a child, surrounded by a quaint, though static, way of living. Thirsty of knowledge, she soon developed a genuine curiosity for everything that was far from her cultural heritage, devoting her travels to the study of anthropological aspects of diverse cultures with a focus on architecture.
Far from the celebrated landmarks, Cecilia pursues places that were built for purpose but taken over by time. She celebrates the evolved aesthetic of sites once abandoned. She captures these places in the rawness of their surrender to nature.
Cecilia currently lives in London, UK, where she works as freelance photographer.
The constantly changing urban landscape of London is a never ending source of inspiration and study for her.
