Poverty in Italy in the last twelve years has been increasing exponentially, a social phenomenon without precedent since the end of the Second World War. In 2020, as claimed by ISTAT (Italian National Institute of Statistics) 5,6 million people were living in this condition, 2 million of them families, a million more people in 2020 alone, as a direct result of Coronavirus. This represents 9,4% of the country’s population, the worst numbers since 2005. Beyond the numbers and objective facts, poverty denies people the opportunity to have the kind of life they value and the possibility of playing a role in society, profoundly affecting their emotional state.
Since 2018 covering North, South and Central Italy, this project explores the theme of poverty with the aim of revealing the emotional impact that emerges from this daily life; sharing the daily routine of the homeless and visiting families living in hardship, it tries to show the inner consequences of living in this condition. Shame, depression, loneliness, and a lack of contact with relatives are just some of the key factors that compromise people’s stability and generate a progressive detachment from society.
Without overlooking the importance of talking about the country’s current situation and with the intention of giving depth to, and wider geographical coverage of, the theme of poverty in a complicated country like Italy is, in this work there is also the intention to go beyond just a “chronicle of the facts”, using photography as a tool by which to show emotional conditions.
With these purposes “Endless Night” tries to break down the borders defined by a country’s reality alone, with the intention of linking “us” as viewers to “them”, in a shared experience. Following this path, images can work as mirrors so that in others we might see ourselves and what their conditions tell us about the state of our society.
ON GOING PROJECT.
Milano, Italy October 15th 2020. Regular visitors of Opera Cardinal Ferrari charity inside the main living room of the building. The Opera Cardinal Ferrari charity was founded in 1921 as a day care centre for the homeless. It can guarantee a meal during the day, the possibility of having a shower and access to common spaces inside their buildings where people can rest and socialize. Social workers also provide psychological support.
The aim of the charity is to create a “family” environment that people can share.
Since March 2020, the charity has drastically reduced the number of visitors. From 400 people a day now the daily access is around one hundred; in this way they are trying to avoid the spread of the Coronavirus.Milan, Italy, February 11th 2021. Queue of people at “Pane Quotidiano Onlus”. Everyday since 1898 the charity provides, free of charge, a bag with staple food to all the people in need without any kind of restrictions. Before the Covid 19 spread the charity supplied around 1300-1400 bags each day, nowadays people needing support is deeply increased, the charity counts near 3000/3500 bags each day.Livorno, Italy, October 11th 2018. A broken door of an hallway inside the occupated Cigna tower. Since February 26th of 2016 the Cigna Tower in Livorno became the house of many families with no economical resources for pay a rent and for people that lost their jobs. Before the closure and followed abandoned, part of the building was the headquarter of the tax office in Livorno. With his 19 floors is visible arriving in Livorno from the Florence highway.Rome, Italy December 7th 2021. Chinedu (left) Annabel and their child, Liberty (both in the center of the picture) inside their room in Casa Betlemme (Bethlehem house). Casa Betlemme (Bethlehem house) is a shelter run by the XXII Rome diocese that offers a temporary place to stay for families living in poor conditions, also providing food and basic necessities.Milan, Italy, February 7th 2020. Onofrio on the terrace of the Don Orione residence where he lives and shares a room with other four people. After have worked for many years as employer in 2015 he lost his job and ended up in the streets. After a period living in homeless shelters he started the association” I gatti Spiazzati” with other people in economic hardship. The association organize city tour and the associates have the role of city guide, showing lesser know parts of Milan. In this way he can earn a minimun monthly wage. After a long disease Onofrio dies in February 2021.Livorno, Italy September 17th 2018. Residents of the Cigna tower discussing at the entrance of the tower. Since February 26th of 2016 the Cigna Tower in Livorno became the house of many families with no economical resources for pay a rent and for people that lost their jobs. Before the closure and followed abandoned and occupation, part of the building was the headquarter of the tax office in Livorno. With his 19 floors is visible arriving in Livorno from the Florence highway.Milan, Italy, February 5th 2020. A man leaving the Arcobaleno Association. Among its activities ( language courses for immigrants, promoting the social inclusion, etc.) the association support people living in poor conditions.Livorno, Italy October 11th 2018. Maurizo and Adil inside Adil’s room in the Cigna tower. Since February 26th of 2016 the Cigna Tower in Livorno became the house of many families with no economical resources for pay a rent and for people that lost their jobs. Before the closure and followed abandoned and occupation, part of the building was the headquarter of the tax office in Livorno. With his 19 floors is visible arriving in Livorno from the Florence highway.Livorno, Italy October 11th 2018. Amina’s daughter plays in her room inside the Cigna Tower.Milano, Italy October 15th 2020. Shadows of a visitor walking inside the living room of Opera Cardinal Ferrari charity. The Opera Cardinal Ferrari charity was founded in 1921 as a day care centre for the homeless. It can guarantee a meal during the day, the possibility of having a shower and access to common spaces inside their buildings, where people can rest and socialize. Social workers also provide psychological support.
The aim of the charity is to create a “family” environment that people can share.
Since March 2020, the charity has drastically reduced the number of visitors from 400 people a day. Now, the daily access is around one hundred; in this way they are trying to avoid the spread of the virus.Bologna, Italy October 16th 2019. Leone on a train going towards Bologna city centre. Leone comes from Messina, Sicily. When he was 30 he decided to move to the North of Italy looking for a better condition of life and for a job. He worked in Treviso as a carpenter in the building sector. In 2012 due to the economic crisis he lost his job and decided to move to Bologna. The first period in Bologna was really tough. He slept on the street and in the public gardens of the city. Nowadays he lives in a garage and works two days a week for a social cooperative that helps people in poor conditions, earning a minimun monthly wage.
