Is it possible to get to know a part of ourselves that remained unknown for all our life? When half of our heritage belongs to a country different from the one we were raised in, with its own customs and traditions, can memories and gestures from that culture still shape our identity?

Born in northern Italy to Italian-Japanese parents, I was never exposed to Japanese culture while growing up. At a certain point in my life, I felt a deep need to connect with my Japanese heritage. This longing inspired my Master’s Thesis project.

“Radici Erranti” is a visual project that investigates the topic of biracial identity and explores my Japanese roots through the tool of photography. The final product is a book designed to reflect the core theme of my project: the dual nature of my heritage.

To capture this idea, I created a layout that offers a “double reading” experience: from beginning to end for an Italian/European audience, and from end to beginning for a Japanese/Asian audience. The cover design was inspired by the ancient practice of "Kintsugi," the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with powdered gold.