Fiore di resilencia is a photo series made during the Canon photo residency to open 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 a deep-seated and constantly-evolving sense of shame. The Sassi – formerly considered as “national shame” in Italy– were recognised as a world heritage site by UNESCO in the 90s. 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 incredibly diverse plants still thrive despite their 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.
