From the rubble to rebirth: the exhibition telling the story of central Italy

From the rubble to rebirth: the exhibition telling the story of central Italy

From the coldness of an abyss to the warmth of a caress. This is the challenge at the heart of the exhibition “L’abisso e la carezza. Visioni del cuore d’Italia ferito dal terremoto e dalla sua rinascita (2016-2026)”, promoted by Commissario Straordinario Guido Castelli and born from an idea by geologist Alessandro Fusari. A journey that goes beyond recounting the rift that struck the Apennines to ignite a new light of hope.

Beyond the wounds, a land that continues to hope

The reality of the earthquake that struck the central Apennines in 2016—affecting 4 Regions, 10 Provinces, and 138 Municipalities—caused a geological wound in Italian territory and an existential wound for those who experienced it firsthand. The story is told without rhetorical veils, with the candor of those who acknowledge the tragedy of what happened while nurturing the hope of a rebirth. Alongside the wounds emerges the vitality of a human, cultural, and spiritual heritage that remains intact. Local communities responded to the trauma through solidarity and concrete action, demonstrating how new energy for the regeneration of the entire region can emerge from suffering.

The photographic story of the earthquake

Five consecutive months of tremors, from the first on August 24, 2016, until October 30, 2016, when a 6.5 magnitude quake was recorded—the strongest in Italy since the 1980 earthquake. But the exhibition goes beyond a mere statistical account, rejecting a sterile narrative. Through various mediums, such as photography, it instills a desire for new perspectives. The project “Nuovo Patrimonio”, by photographer Flavia Rossi, presents through various shots the temporary consolidation interventions and operations, where metal scaffolding becomes part of the historical architecture itself, offering an unprecedented look at the reconstruction.

The future challenge: rebuilding to stay and inhabit again

In recent years, the strength of the "caress" seems to prevail even more over the darkness of the abyss, which often generates fear and the desire to leave one's land and origins to try and build something new elsewhere. The real challenge is not just about repairing walls, but aims to counter the sad reality of depopulation in affected villages. The answer of a "caress" capable of healing and giving new energy resides in that very wound. Only by inhabiting the wounds will it be possible to restart, rebuild, and stay.