Matteo Ribet's Scorpion Cover for Artribune Magazine Explores Trauma and Transformation

The cover of Artribune Magazine issue 76 features a scorpion, a metaphor from Matteo Ribet's photographic series 'Scandal'. The theme borrows from the 2023 Venice Dance Biennale, directed by Wayne McGregor, which explored altered states of consciousness and alternative visions. Ribet, a graduate of IED Rome's three-year photography program, uses his body as a regenerative tool to address past trauma from bullying and eating disorders. His work references artists André Kertész, Cindy Sherman, Igor Pisuk, and Catherine Opie, incorporating mirrors, mannequins, AI, and queer activism. The scorpion image symbolizes Ribet's desire to hide or conform, drawing on animal mimicry in nature. The series also includes manipulated objects like a shoe made of bottle shards and masks to challenge social labels. Ribet is currently working on a social inclusion project for asylum seekers in Rome. The collaboration between IED and Artribune Magazine, titled 'Fragile Surface', aims to present contemporary themes through student and alumni work.