This is a new project which I'm hoping to continue over the coming years if the Italian school system gives me that opportunity... which is not certain!
The maturità (maturity) exams are something of a rite of passage here in Italy, an experience shared (and dreaded) by every student in the country, drawing a line under their high-school education and marking a transition into adulthood. I was allowed to make these portraits of students on their last day at school in the moments just before entering the exam room for the final, high-pressure oral exam. My thanks to everyone at the Rudolf Steiner school in Zoppè (Treviso) for opening the doors to me.
I'd like to continue the project in other schools to build a wider portrait of this generation of young Italians in a moment of transition. The portraits will be accompanied by interviews to get a feel for how they feel about their future.
So far no state school has given me permission to make portraits during exam time, which is a shame because I think the project could have some value. But I will keep trying.
You can view more images from the project here.
All Images © Colin Dutton, 2024. Not to be used without permission.
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