La lunga strada di sabbia (The long sandy road)
During the months of June, July and August 2019, I followed the long sandy road traced by the writer Pier Paolo Pasolini in the story “La Lunga Strada di Sabbia” of the summer of 1959. From Ventimiglia to Trieste, the book defines a route there that of the boot around the Italian coast, which I followed 70 years later in order to offer a photographic interpretation.
“If photography is a journey, it is not in the classic sense suggested by this word, it is rather an itinerary that we draw with a lot of deviations and detours, chances and improvisations, a zigzagging line. “. Luigi Ghirri
This project stems first of all from an insatiable desire to discover Italy today, with the idea of being guided from the Franco-Italian border by the vision and words of a poet, who will say later of his account “that he did not go beyond his first feeling”.
So allowing me to put it in parallel with some of his more committed writings, which have become impressive omens.
Through his works, Pier Paolo Pasolini never ceased to wake up and warn his contemporaries.
So I flew away last June, with the idea of drowning in the mass of a continuous flow of travelers and natives, in order to observe and freeze Italian cities and beaches. The seaside resorts have become formidable laboratories in which several facets of our societies are reflected, highlighting contemporary issues that are looping around like intensive tourism, pollution and the migratory phenomenon of populations.
After eight weeks of travel and more than 4000 kilometers, each city of the 43 traveled has a visual history between fantasy and reality, but also thanks to the presence of ephemeral characters. My vision, sometimes ironic, is above all a benevolent look at a solar and singular Italy which will be, I hope, eternally welcoming.
Chloé Lamidey
