The second project also addresses the theme of childhood. I use my grandparents’ legacy and their archive, reworking it with mixed media.
They were two Neapolitan hairdressers who traveled the world working on cruise ships.
Since my grandfather passed away, Grandma and I have constantly looked at old images, as if searching for something new. In the pictures there are some writings in Neapolitan dialect that describe the condition of my grandmother, forced to move at a young age and carry a family on her shoulders. The images of my childhood and their youth slowly tell the passing of time and anticipate the sad fates of some of the family.
Now they are Neapolitan grandparents. Before they were kids forced to grow up too fast, from children to adults. “Così la pazziella è finita”-“That’s how the game ended.”
Sofia and Luigi open their hairdressing shop on the threshold between adolescence and eighteen. This is a great event and as per tradition the new store has watered and blessed with holy water.
The pair of two hairdressers were forced to close the shop and continue their hairdressing profession on cruise ships around the world, which have set foot on almost every continent. However going back in their mind, the memory of that shop remained.
It was a chance to stick with your neighborhood, everyone going to get their hair done.
The Neapolitan term for a hairdresser is “‘a capera”. This term derives from the Neapolitan “‘nciucio”, meaning gossip, and the “caper” profession consisted precisely in spreading news and gossip among her clients while she took care of their hair. They wore everyone’s secrets, like Mrs. Anna’s, a woman forced to live a double life to earn money. She went up and down from the houses of the rich lords.
Therefore after years as nomads, the time came to choose where to settle.
London or Naples? The motherland called, so from there they returned, once she was removed to them. Because if you’re from southern Italy, you’ll always have to choose between the land that gave you life and another that can truly care for you.
This is archival images of the family of Lor Montella, an italian filmmaker who constantly uses archive and mixed media.
They’ve currently launched an open call for a short film using archival footage.
All the information on how to participate can be found on their social media page.
