“Una Disperata Vitalità”

by Ciro Battiloro

Sanità and Santa Lucia are two districts in the center of the cities of Napoli and Cosenza. They are in the epicenter of Una Disperata Vitalità which focuses on the intimacy of the life of its people which carries the marks and scars of incurable wounds within their flesh. Both of these areas were born in the core of Napoli and Cosenza but after years of gentrification within these cities, Santa Lucia and Sanità suffered from a process of marginalisation which excluded them from the rest of the cities growth.

Stefania was born in Sicily. She moved to Napoli many years ago. Rione Sanità, Napoli.

Nunzia’s family in his “Vascio”. The “vascio ” is the typical residence in the old neighborhoods of Napoli, such as the Rione Sanità. Its feature is to be very small and mono-room, pretty dark and ground floor. It was created from a room originally used as storage. Rione Sanità, Napoli.

Alfonso and his hen. Alfonso is a transvestite. He was once a sex worker. He told me that in the past things were fine but the price to pay for a life spent on the street was insults and harassment. Rione Sanità, Napoli.

Rita and Elena. Rita is a mother of three girls. Her dream was to become a hairdresser but she never had the economical possibilities to realize it. Rione Sanità, Napoli.

Joan And Marcela . Many Roma Families live in Santa Lucia district . They arrived there after the clearing of a Roma camp located on Crati river. They live in unsafe houses. Santa Lucia district, Cosenza.

Una Disperata Vitalità is an essay about life through indentity, culture, cross generational relationships, family, parenting and memories. In these wounds grows solitude and love in its most sincere display escaping the superficiality of a consumerist society. Inside these doors and windows you can find an amazing energy of life – full of dignity where precious authentic stories tell the nature of humanity in the everyday life. At the center of the project lays the population of the districts within their intimate lives, often ignored because of the stigma of marginality excluded of the great economical and political processes of gentrification. This essay is an intimate disclosure of invisible existences.

The Rione Sanità hosts many different ethnic communities. One of the most numerous is that of Capoverdian. Rione Sanità, Napoli

Gennaro and Antonietta. Gennaro lives for a long time in the Rione Sanità, moving often from one house to another.He collects broken objects from the rubbish, by reusing and reinventing them in some way. He defines himself as an inventor. Rione Sanità, Napoli.

Paco and Elena. Rione Sanità, Napoli.

Antonietta. She is one of the oldest sex workers of the District. Santa Lucia was known as a sex workers district. Santa Lucia district, Cosenza.

Micau. The Rione Sanità hosts many different ethnic communities. One of the most numerous is that of Capoverdian. Rione Sanità, Napoli

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Ciro Battiloro (Torre del Greco, 1984) is an italian photographer based in Napoli. He studied philosophy at “Federico II” University of Napoli. He uses a very intimate approach and throat everyday life he discusses more general social thematics.In particular his research of the last years is focused on some urban marginalities in Southern Italy districts (Rione Sanità in Napoli,Quartiere Santa Lucia,Cosenza). In 2015 he was selected for the 2nd edition of LAB, Irregular Laboratory created by Antonio Biasiucci. He was selected for the artistic residency Bocs Art – International Artistic Residences, Up-urban People and Tremplin Jeunes Talent Festival Planches de Contact. His work has been published in several magazines: Internazionale, Courrier International, l’Espresso, LFI, GUP, FOTOILMIC and been exhibited in different museums/galleries and festivals.

Website: www.cirobattiloro.com

Instagram: @cirobattiloro

Selection by Alejandra Martinez Moreno – Editor/Burn Magazine.