RANCID HELL
Rancitelli, a suburban neighbourhood in the city of Pescara, has been plagued by social issues since the late 80s, particularly drugs. The project focuses on a block of buildings known as "Ferro di cavallo" (Horseshoe), which has been demolished in April 2023 in order to "tackle the sale, consumption of drugs and illegal occupation of flats" in what was considered to be the heroin headquarters of the whole central-east Italy.
One year later, the former Ferro di cavallo doesn't exist anymore, yet the situation has not changed the slightest bit. The skeleton of an unfinished building right next door, shown in one of the pictures, has taken its place as the new "drugs market".
One year later, the former Ferro di cavallo doesn't exist anymore, yet the situation has not changed the slightest bit. The skeleton of an unfinished building right next door, shown in one of the pictures, has taken its place as the new "drugs market".
The project, shot during the first day of the demolition works, focuses on the correlation between physical space and man. How space shapes a human, and viceversa. After centuries of development, what's today's duty of architecture? Can it still have an active role? If a space is firmly emprinted in the city's folklore, is it possible to re-shape its content?
As one graffiti on the walls say, referencing Dante's Divine comedy,
"Abandon hope all ye who enter here. Hail drugs."
-Graffiti translations:
1. Lasciate ogni speranza, o voi ch'entrate. Evviva la droga - Abandon hope all ye who enter here. Hail drugs
1. Lasciate ogni speranza, o voi ch'entrate. Evviva la droga - Abandon hope all ye who enter here. Hail drugs
2. Rancitelli - the name of the suburban neighbourhood where the pictures have been shot
3. Porcile / W la droga - Pigsty / Hail drugs
-Notes:
"Pigsty", used as a slang term in italian language, is used in a figurative way to depict a place which is disgusting/awful.
