Nausica Triolo
Nausica Triolo
Nausica Triolo
Visual ethnography
Exploring how we feel, see, and live time on the road to Santiago.
Visual ethnography
Exploring how we feel, see, and live time on the road to Santiago.
Visual ethnography
Exploring how we feel, see, and live time on the road to Santiago.
What is time, and how do we experience it?
Walking the Camino de Santiago, I was struck by how time seemed to behave differently— sometimes rushing, sometimes stretching, sometimes disappearing entirely. Traditional qualitative methods like interviews and observation didn’t capture these abstract, emotional experiences of time.
To approach the question differently, I turned to visual ethnography: I asked fellow pilgrims to draw their perception of time. Once ready, they added words to explain their drawings.This creative method revealed subtle experiences of time that are hard to express in conversation— especially how it shapes our sense of self, community, and connection to nature.
What is time, and how do we experience it?
Walking the Camino de Santiago, I was struck by how time seemed to behave differently— sometimes rushing, sometimes stretching, sometimes disappearing entirely. Traditional qualitative methods like interviews and observation didn’t capture these abstract, emotional experiences of time.
To approach the question differently, I turned to visual ethnography: I asked fellow pilgrims to draw their perception of time. Once ready, they added words to explain their drawings. This creative method revealed subtle experiences of time that are hard to express in conversation— especially how it shapes our sense of self, community, and connection to nature.
What is time, and how do we experience it?
Walking the Camino de Santiago, I was struck by how time seemed to behave differently— sometimes rushing, sometimes stretching, sometimes disappearing entirely. Traditional qualitative methods like interviews and observation didn’t capture these abstract, emotional experiences of time.
To approach the question differently, I turned to visual ethnography: I asked fellow pilgrims to draw their perception of time. Once ready, they added words to explain their drawings.This creative method revealed subtle experiences of time that are hard to express in conversation— especially how it shapes our sense of self, community, and connection to nature.
Findings
Through the drawings and reflections, three dimensions of time emerged:
Biological time: A time felt through our bodies and emotions, in rhythm with walking, and shaped by interactions with other pilgrims and the physical demands of the journey.
Geological time: A time dictated by nature: the sun, shadows, and the slow shifting of landscapes. A grounding and calming dimension that reconnects us to the earth.
Commodified time: A time ruled by clocks, appointments, and fixed schedules. Often felt as heavy, overwhelming, and fast-moving.
Findings
Through the drawings and reflections, three dimensions of time emerged:
Biological time: A time felt through our bodies and emotions, in rhythm with walking, and shaped by interactions with other pilgrims and the physical demands of the journey.
Geological time: A time dictated by nature: the sun, shadows, and the slow shifting of landscapes. A grounding and calming dimension that reconnects us to the earth.
Commodified time: A time ruled by clocks, appointments, and fixed schedules. Often felt as heavy, overwhelming, and fast-moving.
Findings
Through the drawings and reflections, three dimensions of time emerged:
Biological time: A time felt through our bodies and emotions, in rhythm with walking, and shaped by interactions with other pilgrims and the physical demands of the journey.
Geological time: A time dictated by nature: the sun, shadows, and the slow shifting of landscapes. A grounding and calming dimension that reconnects us to the earth.
Commodified time: A time ruled by clocks, appointments, and fixed schedules. Often felt as heavy, overwhelming, and fast-moving.
“The moon, the sun, the tree. There is a time but is relative. The time that is perceived here it is different from the one perceived beyond the walls” [the imaginary wall that divides the Camino from real life].”
Andrea
“In reality, I lost time here. Is not that I threw it away, I've actually really lost it. I never know what time it is, I only know if it is morning, afternoon or evening. But there is no time, only moments [...]”.
Simone
“Time is not present, we are not in time [...] Camino it's like as if you are in a moving meditation and you are so present with everything around you that time is not linear and you are not in time, you are in space.”
Arianna
“On the Camino, time doesn’t have hours, doesn’t have seconds, doesn’t have anything.”
Maura
Conclusions
This project suggests that our sense of connection—to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us—is closely tied to how we perceive time.
Decelerated time (little awareness of commodified time) often brings a feeling of presence, connection, and belonging—a sense of community among pilgrims and harmony with nature.
Accelerated time (dominance of commodified time) often brings a feeling of disconnection—from self, others, and the environment.
Conclusions
This project suggests that our sense of connection—to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us—is closely tied to how we perceive time.
Decelerated time (little awareness of commodified time) often brings a feeling of presence, connection, and belonging—a sense of community among pilgrims and harmony with nature.
Accelerated time (dominance of commodified time) often brings a feeling of disconnection—from self, others, and the environment.
Conclusions
This project suggests that our sense of connection to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us is closely tied to how we perceive time.
Decelerated time (little awareness of commodified time) often brings a feeling of presence, connection, and belonging—a sense of community among pilgrims and harmony with nature.
Accelerated time (dominance of commodified time) often brings a feeling of disconnection—from self, others, and the environment.
“The moon, the sun, the tree. There is a time but is relative. The time that is perceived here it is different from the one perceived beyond the walls” [the imaginary wall that divides the Camino from real life].”
Andrea
“In reality, I lost time here. Is not that I threw it away, I've actually really lost it. I never know what time it is, I only know if it is morning, afternoon or evening. But there is no time, only moments [...]”.
Simone
“Time is not present, we are not in time [...] Camino it's like as if you are in a moving meditation and you are so present with everything around you that time is not linear and you are not in time, you are in space.”
Arianna
“On the Camino, time doesn’t have hours, doesn’t have seconds, doesn’t have anything.”
Maura
“The moon, the sun, the tree. There is a time but is relative. The time that is perceived here it is different from the one perceived beyond the walls” [the imaginary wall that divides the Camino from real life].”
Andrea
“In reality, I lost time here. Is not that I threw it away, I've actually really lost it. I never know what time it is, I only know if it is morning, afternoon or evening. But there is no time, only moments [...]”.
Simone
“Time is not present, we are not in time [...] Camino it's like as if you are in a moving meditation and you are so present with everything around you that time is not linear and you are not in time, you are in space.”
Arianna
“On the Camino, time doesn’t have hours, doesn’t have seconds, doesn’t have anything.”
Maura
“The moon, the sun, the tree. There is a time but is relative. The time that is perceived here it is different from the one perceived beyond the walls” [the imaginary wall that divides the Camino from real life].”
Andrea
“In reality, I lost time here. Is not that I threw it away, I've actually really lost it. I never know what time it is, I only know if it is morning, afternoon or evening. But there is no time, only moments [...]”.
Simone
“Time is not present, we are not in time [...] Camino it's like as if you are in a moving meditation and you are so present with everything around you that time is not linear and you are not in time, you are in space.”
Arianna
“On the Camino, time doesn’t have hours, doesn’t have seconds, doesn’t have anything.”
Maura
“The moon, the sun, the tree. There is a time but is relative. The time that is perceived here it is different from the one perceived beyond the walls” [the imaginary wall that divides the Camino from real life].”
Andrea
“In reality, I lost time here. Is not that I threw it away, I've actually really lost it. I never know what time it is, I only know if it is morning, afternoon or evening. But there is no time, only moments [...]”.
Simone
“Time is not present, we are not in time [...] Camino it's like as if you are in a moving meditation and you are so present with everything around you that time is not linear and you are not in time, you are in space.”
Arianna
“On the Camino, time doesn’t have hours, doesn’t have seconds, doesn’t have anything.”
Maura