Fiore di resilencia is a photo series made during the Canon photo residency in Matera as the capital of culture 2019.
Matera’s path to the present is a story of ingenuity and resilience, but also of disgrace and redemption. In particular, it is a story of constantly-evolving sense of shame and pride with the "Sassi" - central districts of the city made out of ancient cave dwellings inhabited since the Paleolithic period .
In the mid-twentieth century, the Sassi became a refuge neighborhood, subordinated, inadequate, and saturated. This process reached its peak in 1952, when the Italian governement enacted a special law to order the evacuation of the Sassi. The inhabitants of Matera were forced to abandon their homes and to relocate to new appartments in new neighborhoods. Old houses were cemented, and every inhabitant had to move. This event underlined a condition of long-term hardship and deeply frustrating social disorder.
The Sassi – formerly considered as “national shame” in Italy because of its poverty and high infant mortality rate – was recognised as a world heritage site by UNESCO in the 90s. This year, Matera is becoming the "European Capital of Culture". The city is still coming to terms with its physical identity and heritage.
Fiore di resilencia confronts the city's stigma and history, with the resilence of Matera's inhabitants, stones and plants. Materaens are currently under the spotlight for living in a national treasure. The city's doors - once cemented - now welcome tourists, and the incredible plants diversity still thrives despite the urban environment. Now, seems a time of collective therapy. Through double exposure, Fiore di resilencia catches these moments between present and past. It is a tribute to the livings of Matera, in a jewel once considered as a ghost-town.
Interview during the Matera Open Future Residency.
