Welcome Ritty, how long has it been since your last confession?

It’s been many weeks since my last confession – probably a year.

Your work leans on religious sentiments quite often—what do you feel is the role and importance of religion, especially your Roman Catholic upbringing, in your work?

I was raised in a deeply religious family, immersed in a culture rich with spiritual traditions. From a young age, I was naturally drawn to religious iconography. My surroundings were filled with symbols of faith, from small Lourdes statues to numerous portraits of Jesus and the Madonna adorning our home. These images captivated me, and while my personal connection to religion has evolved over time, the influence of this iconography remains deeply ingrained in me. It continues to shape my life and is evident in the way I decorate my home and express myself through my work.

Besides religious iconography, one could say nudity is also part and parcel of your photography. But from your perspective, what makes a photograph a “Ritty Tacsum” photo?

My artistic style has undergone a significant evolution over the years. While nudity and religious elements remain prominent, my work has expanded to explore layers. These layers emerge through techniques like multiple exposures and are enriched by the complex narratives I weave into each piece. It’s this interplay of visual and conceptual depth that defines my work, creating a multifaceted experience for the viewer.

People’s deepest thoughts and desires can be rather singular. Similar to a real-life church confessional, do you feel the anonymity factor helped people reveal themselves for who they really are?

Yes, I believe that providing a platform where people can unburden themselves of personal thoughts played a crucial role in encouraging more confessions. There are certain things in life that are difficult to say out loud, and I think “Disclosure” offered some the opportunity to do so.

Were there any confessions you would have liked to bring to life but found too dark or complex to recreate? On the flip side, did you receive any odd ones? Like someone confessing to stealing donuts from their children, for example?

There were indeed some confessions I would have liked to bring to life visually, but I found it challenging, especially with sensitive topics like those involving rape. On a lighter note, one confession that stood out was quite humorous—someone found themselves in a garage with an urgent need to poop, and they ended up using a black trash bag, which was later set out for collection.