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“Perfume and music have the same magic. They are arts related to two fundamental senses for orienting oneself in the world and building one's memory. They are both invisible but powerful, capable of changing moods, conveying emotions, and awakening memories. Who hasn't happened to smell a smell and vividly remember a loved one, a special place, an unforgettable moment? The same can happen by listening to a song.”

Palazzo del Governatore (Parma, Italy) - 2024-10-15

I recalled some sentences by Ambra Martone, president of “Accademia del Profumo”, while I was looking at a jukebox in a photo show titled “THE 1950s-American Stories of the Great Magnum Photographers” at Palazzo del Governatore in Parma. It was set in a room illuminated in a manner that it seemed even more nostalgic, as if from another era.

A jukebox is not an antique; it is a time machine that transports you to the past. Each song in it is like a portion of your life, a song that reminds you of a moment in your life. I can see all the different stories of people who, years ago, put in a coin and chose a song: maybe it's two people dancing close to a ballad, a group singing together loudly, or someone soothing a bad day by listening to a sad song.

I was attempting to determine how to photograph this, and I realized that it's hard to express what a song does to you in a picture. But the jukebox can symbolize those memories: its bright lights, shiny metal parts, and scribbled song names. It appears as if it's holding the emotions of the individuals who came into contact with it.

I did my best to capture this special moment. I paid close attention to the details, like the light bouncing off the keys and the shadows moving around them like spirits. This picture show to show not just the object, but also the strong feeling of the music that makes it unique.

If I were to equate an image with a song, it would be an old ballad, the sort that will make you close your eyes and smile, even though they are sore.

Did you ever catch a scent of a perfume or the sound of a song that carried you back to some memory or event in your life?

If you ever find yourself standing in front of a jukebox, stop for a moment and let its magic cast its spell on you.