The documentary photo report by Mediterranean Pearls is now available in Italian bookstores and libraries. This photographic exploration delves into the coexistence of landscapes and permanent traces of industrial archaeology, catering to curious travelers who seek rich experiences and meaningful connections on their vacations. The volume has been produced with the support and patronage of the MIC - Ministry of Culture, General Directorate for Education, Research, and Cultural Institutes, and with scientific contributions from ReMi - National Network of Mining Museums and Parks - ISPRA.
Petit Tour nei paesaggi sotterranei italiani
Mediterranean Pearls Book
192 pages
ISBN 9791221003642
Available for €30 plus shipping (book postage).
Read the Author's Preface by M. Debora Sanna
LANDSCAPES, THE AESTHETIC OF INDUSTRIAL SUBLIMITY, AND MATERIAL LIFE
I sought something enduring. I was looking for traces of permanence and glimpses of enchantment in the post-industrial landscape. I sought the aesthetic of industrial sublimity, aware that it might obscure the harsh reality of unsustainable mining life. I explored lands scarred by coal, now blending into multifunctional landscapes that integrate protected areas, conservation zones, and cultivated lands, supporting sustainable development of former mines. Tall shafts challenge the sky, resembling watchtowers guarding miners' villages, stretching horizontally and climbing like Prometheus. The miner, akin to Theseus moving rocks, might have been seeking an exit or a reason to stay.
In mining museums, I captured fragments of peace in the miner's harsh life, as they dust off at the end of their shift, perhaps with pride in illuminating the hidden gems within the deepest darkness. Their life was harsh, limiting, and uncomfortable. I saw them sitting on a seat, constantly bent over the flow of minerals, hands soon cut and scarred by sharp mineral pieces, nails worn down from contact with the iron chute. The air they breathed was thick with dust, the summer heat intense, and winter’s cold bitter.
Top photo: © Nicola Mascia