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Sub Sole
Around the Mediterranean, Massao Mascaro traces the journey of Ulysses and meets the exiles who inhabit Ceuta, Naples, Athens, Palermo, Istanbul, Tunis, and Lampedusa.
“Sub Sole (in Latin, beneath the sun), an ensemble of photographs made between 2017 and 2020, in the region of the Mediterranean Sea, follows the mythological itinerary of the voyage of Ulysses: Ceuta, Naples, Athens, Palermo, Istanbul, Tunis and Lampedusa. Crossroads of cultures, cradle of foundation myths, the Mediterranean is, today more than ever, marked by migrations, exile and displacement. Over the course of seven voyages and numerous chance encounters, Mascaro goes in search of the young people who inhabit and traverse this region. The literary narratives which the artist drew upon for his work are like the invisible companions of these photographs. They imbue the contemporary images with an ancient substance. Beneath the sun, political, economic, existential, and poetic implications intersect, beneath the harsh, hot Mediterranean light whose rhythm shapes human life.” Sonia Voss
Massao’s work is a delicate balance between autobiography, topography and politics. His intimate point of view, his use of a soft focus, a tight cropping and a narrow depth of field evoke touch. The scope of his work is profoundly political, as it is rooted in the need to explore how humans relate to the spaces (both cultural and geographical) they inhabit. He is represented by Galerie C (Neuchâtel).
Text: Federico Clavarino
Editorial direction: Cécile Poimboeuf-Koizumi
Design: Bureau Kayser
Flexibound
24,6 x 29 cm
81 duotone photographs
168 pages
English / French / Italian
Publication date: 10 September 2021
ISBN : 979-10-96383-25-2