RE:Birth

Valeria Cherchi’s RE:Birth addresses the theme of obstetric and gynaecological violence and the resulting trauma, in its individual, social and political dimension. 

The project is rooted in a personal story: the death, at just six months old, of her homonymous sister due to an unreported case of obstetric violence. This event becomes the starting point for an investigation into the phenomenon through the collection of biographical testimonies of women and doulas. Among the themes tackled is transgenerational trauma and the impact of perinatal loss on fathers, represented through underwater visions evoking the isolation that often accompanies similar experiences.

Connecting her photographic research to archival materials and official narratives, Cherchi creates multivocal chronicles that invite critical reflection on the recounted events, while shedding light on power dynamics linked to systematic forms of neglect and oppression. Her work proposes spaces of resilience, drawing strength from solidarity and peer support.

RE:Birth is part of Valeria Cherchi’s research project supported by Strategia Fotografia 2024 and promoted by the Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity of the Italian Ministry of Culture.