Utopia

Matera is a symbol of rebirth, rising from extreme and prolonged difficulties. For decades referred to as the shame of Italy it rose to a become a jewel. Nominated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1993 and European Capital of Culture in 2019. Over the centuries it has changed shape over and over again, in an ongoing dialogue between rock and architecture. Carlo Levi in his book ‘Christ stopped at Eboli’ he singles out the Sassi of Matera for its ‘tragic beauty and hallucinogenic aura of decay, “like a school boy’s idea of Dantés Inferno”. The place today is riddled with tunnels and caves, what you see on the surface is only 30 percent, the other 70 percent lies hidden beneath. The town was evacuated in 1952 and all its inhabitants were rehoused. Then it was left desolate until the early 1980’s. I was captivating by the towns stories, and its rejuvenation. Its presses one to examine current issues of social housing, unfinished public works, suburbs and how we may live within a space without recognition of its potential. This is a work in progress, I travelled to Matera early February this year (2020) to photograph the first stage of this project. I left on 20th February and Matera went into lockdown the following week.