Get your hand in mine
Get your time on time
“Time flows in a strange way on Sundays”
I spent a long Sunday in Bologna following a young couple around with my camera. We did everything together: had breakfast, hung out in the bathroom while they showered, and even shared a moment where Eugenia tied Maru up with ropes, this mix of tenderness and trust that felt so natural between them.
We had lunch in their kitchen, Maru cooked, Eugenia washed the dishes and later, I was there with them in the bedroom, doing my best to stay out of their way while capturing these intimate moments. I tried to be present in a quiet, documentary way, hoping to catch something real, something unspoken in their connection.
Maru, a musician, and Eugenia, a poet, welcomed me into their home with this beautiful mix of openness and vulnerability. I did my best to blend into their Sunday routine, making sure they felt comfortable. And honestly, they did.
Being there with them, fully present, was like stepping into this deeply personal space not just physically but emotionally too. It felt like being part of something raw and real. I’m so grateful for that because, as someone who’s naturally introverted and struggles to connect with people, this was huge for me.
“Close to Me” is the start of a photo series exploring how sexuality, love, and art intersect with the search for identity. It’s about how intimacy and closeness can open us up, challenge how we see ourselves, and let us connect with others without judgment. But at the same time, it’s just what it is “snapshots of a Sunday”.
I never thought this day would end
I never thought tonight could ever be
This close to me
About the author: LULU WITHHELD
“I studied art in the late 1990s and early 2000s. After dropping out of university, I began traveling the world in search of myself and my “inner demons.” Along the way, I shot a considerable number of videos, collaborated on exhibitions, wrote down my stories to share with the world, and brought installation art and performances to life. Ultimately, I returned to my roots – my first love: photography.”
IG > @LULU_WITHHELD
