AGOSTINELLI
Lo Stralisco
This commissioned photo series was created for Meta-Arte, a non-profit Theater Therapy organization in Padova, Italy. The name of the series, lo Starlisco, draws inspiration from the italian author Roberto Piumini, whose fictional work describes a kingdom, in which resides an ill prince. The young prince, bound due to his illness, has never stepped foot out of the castle. Thus the king, his father, commissions an artist to paint the castle walls with the flora and fauna of the outside world. But the artist soon realizes that it is not only the little prince who has a lot to learn and a beautiful friendship forms between the two.
Piumini's book highlights the curative power of art and of it's ability to bring people together. It is a testament of our societies need for creativity and how artistic practices are now more needed than ever.
Hoarding Memories
This photo series was realized in 2022 near Lido Beach in Venice, Italy.
It tells the story of the Venetian Bourgeoisie: A generation still living of the fruits of the Italian Golden Age. However, just like the city of Venice itself, beneath the affluence, we observe themes of solitude, a slow decline and a desperate attachment to the past. As this last generation of Venetians grows older, we simultaneously witness the decline of the cities once-thriving economy. Surrounded by millions of tourists outside their homes, these elders now find themselves alone in houses that have become too large, a social circle which has become too small and burdened by a lifetime of memories.
Comedia Theater
This photo series was commissioned by the Comedia Theater Company in Cologne. Like Meta-Arte, this company focuses on theater therapy and pedagogy. My role was to document their annual Bohei Festival, capturing photos of their performances and workshops. In addition, I was assigned as the director's assistant, working closely with their theater production for several months.
Una questione meridionale
Since the unification of Italy, Northern and Southern Italy have remained divided by economic and social inequality. Southern Italy has faced persistent issues such as inadequate public transportation, underdeveloped commercial routes, stark contrasts in infrastructure, employment opportunities, higher poverty rates, and significantly lower literacy levels compared to the North. These challenges are partly the result of historical neglect, uneven development policies and regional discrimination within Italy.
Under this North-South divide, often referred to as the Questione Meridionale, the North, has benefited from more economic development.
The upcoming "Autonomia Differenziata" (differentiated autonomy) reform proposal is now raising concerns about exacerbating these existing inequalities. Under this plan, regions like Lombardy, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna could gain greater control over tax revenues and decision-making powers, potentially allowing wealthier northern regions to thrive while further marginalizing the South. This reform risks deepening the economic divide, leaving Southern Italy further entrenched in economic hardship.