The Heroism and Beauty of LGBTQIA+ Asylum Seekers, with Umberto N. Nicoletti, The Photographer Behind the Book 'Asylum'

Art Heals All Wounds

Who do you look up to? Do you have heroes? Fashion photographer Umberto N. Nicoletti has created a new coffee table book full of photographs of some of his heroes—LQBTQIA+ asylum seekers. Inspired by his friend Diego Puccio, a volunteer for Arcigay, an Italian organization that helps refugees obtain asylum, Umberto became passionate about fighting for LGBTQIA+ rights. He was shocked to learn that over 40% of countries still have laws against the community and realized that even his own inner circle of friends was unaware of this issue. Umberto decided to take action and create an artistic project to raise awareness about the criminalization of the LGBTQIA+ community worldwide.

Umberto joins me to talk about his new book of photography, Asylum, which features photographs of some of the LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers Umberto has met. We talk about his choices in terms of the style of the photographs, why it’s important to him to show the subjects in a more glamorous and idealized way, the process of interviewing the subjects of the book, and his hopes for the book and future projects based on it.

We also cover how Umberto feels a connection to these asylum seekers based on his search for belonging in his own life.
Transcript
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Guest Info:

• Umberto’s Website
• Asylum Website

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