L’Aquila, medieval city in the Abruzzo region, central Italy, was hit by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake, which caused great damage to the city and the nearby towns. The historical heritage was severely affected as well.
3:32 AM, 6th April 2009
The documentary project is a journey through the artistic heritage of L’Aquila. Historical buildings are not marginal in a post-disaster reconstruction. Indeed, they contribute in shaping our sense of belonging to a community.
Monuments survive throughout history wheter damaged, changed or restored.
Does restoration transform them in a fabrication of history at some point?
This major project has been produced for Berenice’s MA in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography at University of the Arts London. Immota Manet has been exhibited at the 2021 LCC Postgraduate Showcase and its online version.
Immota Manet is a Latin expression meaning “steadfast endures”. There’s no certainty about why these words are written on the banner of L’Aquila, but they may refer to the fact that the medieval city was reborn everytime after the earthquakes which have damaged it throughout the centuries.
