TAKE A SEAT / TOMA ASIENTO Photography Exhibition, London 2025.
TAKE A SEAT / TOMA ASIENTO is Enzo Sebastiani’s first solo exhibition in London. This page brings together the project in its entirety: the photographs exhibited, the accompanying texts, and moments from the show itself. It serves both as a reflection on the exhibition and as an extension of it: an open invitation to pause and look a little closer.
TAKE A SEAT / TOMA ASIENTO is my first solo exhibition, held in London from 14–19 October 2025 at The Gallery at The Playroom. What began as a simple observation of chairs I encountered in different European cities gradually evolved into an exploration of presence, absence and how urban spaces hold quiet traces of connection and time.
This page brings together the project in its entirety: the photographs exhibited, the accompanying texts, and moments from the show itself. It serves both as a reflection on the exhibition and as an extension of it: an open invitation to pause and look a little closer.
Exhibition text by Alejandro Sebastiani Verlezza
Translation to English by Enzo Sebastiani Verlezza
I picture Enzo Sebastiani Verlezza — wandering through his travels across Europe — capturing the images that now shape his first solo exhibition.
Me imagino a Enzo Sebastiani Verlezza —en sus diferentes viajes europeos— captando las imágenes que componen su primera exposición individual.
When artists are truly immersed in their craft, they’re often swept away by the thrill of a theme or an idea, and along that journey, they learn to follow the subtle clues that guide their way.
Los artistas, cuando están realmente implicados en su oficio, son tomados repentinamente por el entusiasmo ante un tema o una idea y en el proceso saben encontrar las pistas que los van guiando.
Here, the photographer chose chairs as his object of exploration, or perhaps it was the other way around. Either way, he presents them in a striking series that speaks of connection and belonging within urban settings.
Aquí el fotógrafo escogió como objeto de exploración a las sillas o tal vez ellas lo escogieron a él; en todo caso las presenta en una elocuente serie que sugiere el valor de los vínculos en los más diversos entornos urbanos.
These “objects” carry a quiet power to suggest many stories and atmospheres: sometimes they evoke warmth and hospitality; at other times, a touch of solitude.
Estos “objetos” tienen la capacidad de insinuar múltiples historias y atmósferas; evocan hospitalidad y en otras oportunidades cierta soledad.
There’s a gentle nod here to Marina Abramović’s iconic performance The Artist Is Present: the act of sitting close becomes a poetic gesture, almost a meditation.
Aquí aparece un guiño al famoso performance de Marina Abramovic “La artista está presente. La artista se sienta”: el hecho de estar cerca se vuelve un gesto poético, casi una meditación.
The curious wanderer begins to perceive a deeper meaning in the chairs found along his path: he notices their versatility, their own language. Beyond being everyday “pieces” of furniture, they acquire personalities of their own, revealing the dynamism and contrasts of modern cities.
El caminante curioso percibe un sentido profundo en las sillas encontradas en sus recorridos: empezó a notar que son versátiles, tienen su propio lenguaje; más allá de la "pieza" para el uso diario, adquieren su propia personalidad, revelan el dinamismo y los contrastes de las ciudades actuales.
Behind these images lies the photographer’s personal story and his desire to explore how human bonds take shape.
En el costado de estas imágenes subyace la historia personal del fotógrafo y su deseo de explorar el funcionamiento de los vínculos humanos.
The series itself seems to be in constant motion, like the streets that host these chairs. Sometimes they appear abandoned; other times, casually placed.
Esta serie pareciera estar en movimiento constante: como las mismas calles que reciben a las sillas, en ocasiones parecen abandonadas o simplemente respiran de modo casual en el espacio.
There’s also an invitation to look at these “objects” playfully - to imagine new uses for them, as the Surrealists once did during their famous wanderings through street markets.
Aquí se insinúa la posibilidad de mirar estos “objetos” de manera lúdica y darle nuevos usos, como hacían los surrealistas en sus famosos paseos por los mercados callejeros.
These chairs long to rediscover the dolce far niente: to sit and watch people go by, to savour the simple act of passing time with those we meet along the way — friends, family, neighbours — joined in the timeless act of being together, telling stories, and sharing the quiet pleasure of our humanity.
Estas sillas quieren recuperar el famoso dolce far niente: sentarse y ver cómo la gente camina, disfrutar el simple hecho de pasar el tiempo con las amistades que aparecen en el camino, la familia y los vecinos, todos en el gesto común de estar juntos, contando historias, constatando el sabor común de nuestra humanidad.
A beautifully crafted vlog by my dear friend José Rafael Hernández. A candid glimpse into the atmosphere of the exhibition.
Enzo Sebastiani (1989) is a Venezuelan photographer and artist.
Raised in Caracas in a family of Italian descent, he began exploring photography and video from an early age. At fifteen, he studied photography at the Nelson Garrido Organisation and later pursued Library Science at the Central University of Venezuela.
A decade ago he moved to London, where his work has evolved around the observation of urban spaces and the quiet narratives that emerge within them. His practice spans street photography, editorial and commercial work, often guided by a fascination with the rhythm and character of contemporary cities.
Online, his ongoing project WHEN I CLICK serves as a breathing portfolio and space for creative expression. It brings together a blog, personal photographic series, and soon, a creative studio dedicated to visual storytelling and direction.
Sebastiani has exhibited in Venezuela and the United Kingdom, including the Jesús Soto Museum of Modern Art, CELARG Foundation, Central University of Venezuela, Valencia Museum, Chacao Cultural Centre, Sala Mendoza Gallery, British Council Venezuela, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography, The Holy Art Gallery, Luminoir Art Gallery, Espacio Gallery, MONAD, Cluster Photography and The Gallery At The Playground.
His work has been featured in F-Stop Magazine, BULBO, Docu Magazine, Iconoclast Magazine, Artsin Square, Artit, and Playbook, and has received Honourable Mentions at the Top Photo Awards, reFocus Awards, and featured at The Times Magazine.
A Chromatic Trip to Faro
My trip to Faro last year was an eye-candy experience, with its blue waters, fresh breezes, and the warmth of its people. But there was more.
My trip to Faro last year was an eye-candy experience, with its blue waters, fresh breezes, and the warmth of its people. But there was more.
One thing I wasn't expecting was the chromatic trip I experienced, which I was able to capture with my small and loyal Canon camera. This entry has turned out exactly as I wanted: images that describe Faro better than I ever could with words.
Walking around Faro is a mixed-feelings experience, where remnants of culture and tradition clash with the contemporary reality of tourism. Overpriced apartments sold to foreigners stand harmoniously next to small local businesses, colourful corners, and the memories of once-stunning & polished facades.
Faro has all the visual elements I love in photography—grittiness, decay, beautiful tones, and shapes formed by the passage of time. To a degree, it was stunning, with thousands of photo opportunities where poetic details were created not only by the noisy presence of humans but also by their absence. Abandoned corners with a glorious past are easy to find around the city.
Part of the trip also included visiting Ria Formosa Nature Park, Praia da Ilha da Culatra, and Ilha Deserta, which provided opportunities to better understand the area, its struggles, and the unique ways the locals express themselves through colours and a spirit of spontaneity.
Faro feels authentic and unexplored, even as it is filled with tourists—a constant battle between forces trying to change the landscape.
More of my creative work >> WHEN I CLICK Instagram
Finding the Unexpected in Malta
Walking around Valetta (the capital) is visually stimulating. You can stop in every corner and decode old messages, graffiti remains or just an interesting architectural detail. Layers upon layers of old paint on intricate door designs, unexpected colour palettes, and just the right amount of abandonment collectively generate a familiar European atmosphere, yet it remains distinctly unique. If you really like to stop and see, this place might be an urban paradise
I would define Malta as unexpected. I wasn't sure what to expect besides the obvious - a little summer paradise. However, it quickly became more than that for me. Yes, the water is impossibly clear with unreal tones, and jellyfish float in an almost magical way. Yet, I fell in love with this island for reasons beyond the obvious. It made me feel curious and intrigued. I was stimulated by its uniqueness beyond its picture-perfect landscapes.
Malta is distinctive and picturesque; it feels like a place with textures everywhere if that makes any sense. Walking around Valletta (the capital) is visually stimulating. You can stop at every corner and decode old messages, observe graffiti remnants, or just appreciate an interesting architectural detail. Layers upon layers of old paint on intricate door designs, unexpected colour palettes, and just the right amount of abandonment collectively generate a familiar European atmosphere, yet it remains distinctly unique. If you enjoy pausing to properly see, this place might be an urban paradise
One day, I was in a coffee shop searching for traditional sweets to bring home. A woman, seated a few meters away, noticed my quest and pointed out something that looked a bit Greek. She quickly added, 'I know it seems Greek, but it’s ours as well. To be honest, we are a melting pot from everywhere – British, French, Italian...we have a bit of everything.' That random historical message immediately clicked.
The cultural and historical blend can sometimes be quite obvious. Certain corners may evoke the spirit of Rome, while some spaces playfully embrace a French ambiance. At times, the imprint is as unmistakable as stumbling upon a traditional British postbox – an ultimate melting pot, as the kind lady from the coffee shop mentioned. More than just a pot, it’s a striking canvas and a playground for photographers and curious individuals seeking meaning behind an old layer of paint.
Check some of the videos I created from my trip to Malta on my Instagram page.
Postcards from East London, July 2023.
Some of the most fascinating corners in London are located in East London - a mixture of past, present and how the future it’s shaping up to be.
Some of the most fascinating corners in London are located in East London - a mixture of past, present and how the future it’s shaping up to be. This particular area of the city might feel chaotic and oversaturated, but it’s a portrait of a place in constant movement.
I spent a bright day in July walking around with my old small Canon camera, getting lost in the area. Starting in Kingsland High Street in Dalston and moving into different directions without any -no pun intended- direction.
To connect with the sauce of a place, you need to pay close attention to details, the layers underneath the obvious. At least that works for me as a photographer. It’s not about the beautiful fresh facades but the old ones that survived the test of time - those tell you the whole story. Paying attention to temporary and atemporal elements summarises the evolution of a place and how it’s navigating the right now.
Self-expression and freedom are some of the keywords of East London. Here the Londoner experience feels very particular and eccentric.
This area might feel like pure contradiction. Safe queer-spaces located next to the most traditional-looking barber shop. Seconds later, a very vibrant and quirky independent cafe next to yet another corner Pret A Manger. And the list goes on. The contrast between a very mundane place right next to a slightly pretentious one it’s also the norm here.
East is not the ideal for everyone but somehow this area sometimes feels more London than anything else in London.
More of my creative work >> WHEN I CLICK Instagram
Colours of Burano
Burano is the ultimate definition of a real-life movie set. This colourful architectural miracle is located in the Venetian Lagoon, a vaporetto away from the core of Venice.
Burano is the ultimate definition of a real-life movie set. This colourful architectural explosion is located in the Venetian Lagoon, a vaporetto away from the core of Venice. I would define it as a canvas for photographers and a bible for colour addicts.
Every wall, window and curtain seems to be placed where it is supposed to be. A bed sheet drying under the warm sun, the shadow of a broken street lamp, a bird cage facing the canals. Everything seems intentional and screaming for your attention.
Burano's perfect colour palette coordination feels as much like an OCD paradise as it does a lucky strike. It’s unsettling in the best way possible.
In a moment in time where everywhere feels chaotic, overpopulated and overexposed, Burano's coordination feels much more like a spontaneous orchestra than an overly curated Instagram feed.
An obvious #aestheticgoals hashtag is probably attached to shots of Burano all over the internet. But this term feels ironic once you are there melting in every corner. These little empty streets are stuck in time far away from social media chaos.
As a homage to this incomparable place, I created my colour palette guide. This is a collection of my favourite colours found in the pictures I took during my trip. Why there isn’t a book called Burano’s Pantone out there? I said it first! (drop a message if you are reading this, Pantone).
Seville #FFAB60
One word to define Seville is powerful. A city very loyal to its traditions but in an ongoing battle with modernity and mass-produced mentality. Heaven for aesthetics lovers. Energetic in a delicate way.
One word to define Seville is powerful. A city very loyal to its traditions but in an ongoing battle with modernity and mass-produced mentality. Heaven for aesthetics lovers. Energetic in a delicate way.
Real Alcazar de Sevilla is the highlight of the city, an architectural wonder filled with nostalgic corners and unintentional poetic scenarios. This post is a tribute to my visit to Seville and this captivating place.
There’s a particular feeling attached to this city. I find out shortly that everywhere you look your eyes will encounter some shade of orange. Warm, vibrant, comforting. Sevilla tiene un naranja especial, as a popular song from the 90’s confirm.
Most recently, Pantone determined the city’s official colour by collecting more than 10,000 photos and using an algorithm to define the ‘official’ colour of the city. Hola to #FFAB60 “friendly and optimistic with a touch of zest”.
Bonus Feria de Sevilla, a big spring celebration that helps Seville colour palette expands beyond shades of orange.
how close is too close?
‘how close is too close?’ is a photographic experiment where a photographer and a model search for a common language on a virtual photoshoot that took place during the pandemic.
The start of the pandemic in 2020 challenged our ways to communicate and stay connected. Even though we live in a hyper-connected society where everything seems available, real reality turned into a real panic fest. Face-to-face was not a possibility, human connection was under attack.
Humans always find ways to adapt and replicate what’s familiar into new scenarios. Desperate for connection, video calls became popular, traditional calls were a thing again (eek), Tik Tok exploded (dancing seemed like a pain-free coping mechanism), people were loving Whatsapp family groups (just for a bit though), and the creation of digital art took an interesting twist accelerating innovation in all fields.
“How close is too close? A question we were all asking ourselves during the early stages of the pandemic. How close can we get to strangers now? The lines between personal and professional were blurred. Our computers and phones importance became even more elevated. Our only means of connection. But where does privacy start and end? ”
At the peak of the pandemic, I asked my longtime collaborator and podcast co-host Claire, to let ourselves go and create some sort of digital abstract-reality portraits. We both logged in on Zoom, I took my Canon camera out and we created what the kids call nowdays a vibe.
This particular historic moment took away from us some real opportunities for creation, but at the same time, enabled us to explore and play in different directions. We were lucky enough to be healthy and with everything needed at our disposition, both able to dig deeper into our emotions and our reality bubble.
First few minutes were tense, we both wondered what were doing but confident enough to keep pushing. Soon enough we started to get into the flow. What happened that help us? Probably this hunger for creation or just the idea of there’s nothing else to do anyway.
This outcome was an elevated version of what I envisioned. We had something going on that helped us stay connected and creative in such wild context. Some of the photos inspired me to create collages (sorry Claire to deform your face) taking this experiment to a new level of digital abstraction.
“Creating a shoot via a webcam was a new experience. Initially, I felt uncomfortable posing, I was unsure about how to position my body, how close to get to my computer, and how to work with Enzo with the barrier of the screen between us- but we soon got into a flow. Using props such as the wine glass (why not) helped. I think ultimately we both had to embrace the separation between us and I love the added dimension that this gave to the images.”
“To me, this shoot reflects the feelings that arose in lockdown- uncomfortable, suffocating, warped, intense. But of course, as always, Enzo and I had the best time creating this shoot and I can’t wait for our next one.”
boxing day.
Boxing Day In London Visual Diary. Skipped boxing day shopping, went for a walk. This is what the 26th of 2021 looked like.
Boxing Day in London consists of ‘let’s go for a walk’ or shopping madness. I went for the first option and walked a couple of hours along Holloway Road in North London.
This marks my first blog post, conceived as a visual diary but it might turn into an ideas dump. Let’s see how this space breathes and shapes itself.
This is what the 26th looked like.
Pound Saver Christmas Trees on Sale
My Only Wish for Christmas is you.
Public Ho Ho Ho
Rough Christmas for lonely souls.
Please, please don’t leave me.
All that glitter fading away.
Hangover.
Real Christmas.
Next year i’ll figure it out.
You and I, we were born to die.