Lontano Nascosto
Lontano Nascosto, so far in Italian, is a recent project by Studio Mare shot for VITELLI, an Italian knitwear brand. Studio Mare was founded in October in Milan and is composed of Luigi Calfa, Margherita Di Battista, and Marco Mannacio.
This shoot enables a viewer to get a chance to visit the area of Calabria in the south of Italy, the area that suffers from depopulation due to the migration of its inhabitants to the urban areas. The breathtaking grandeur of nature, its colors, the heavy fog falling on the land offer both the warmth of the land and the extensive loneliness the vastness evokes.
The team describes their decision for the location as the well-known place from the childhood memories, the road trips still remembered as having a personal impact. "The nature in Calabria is lush and nostalgic at the same time. The best choice is to let yourself be carried away by its colours, its perfumes, and to feel back home again." - the team explains.
Production & Art Direction Studio Mare Photographer Luigi Calfa Talent Barbara Loscerbo Clothes by VITELLI
Studio Mare Members Luigi Calfa Margherita Di Battista Marco Mannacio
‘Many Italian regions see their internal areas lose population; this phenomenon is massive in the Southern part of the country. In Calabria, where the two of us are from, many people abandon their territory (its fields and woods) to move to urban areas.’
Hi guys, the story you present speaks about the topic close to your heart - the depopulation in the south of Italy. Could you tell more about this?
Many Italian regions see their internal areas lose population; this phenomenon is massive in the Southern part of the country. In Calabria, where the two of us are from, many people abandon their territory (its fields and woods) to move to urban areas. On one hand, it causes loss of traditions and habits, the decay of historical villages; and on the other hand, the death of a form of agriculture and its products. We deeply feel these changes and their consequences, and this is one of our main sources of inspiration for the research by Studio Mare.
‘To choose the location for us meant bringing back memories of our youth and of our many road trips in Sila (the most famous mountain in Calabria) with the only desire to discover places full of memories and still not completely explored.’
How would you describe Calabria, the region in the south of Italy, you shoot the story at? How did you choose the specific locations?
Calabria is and has always been a land full of contrasts, rich in lights and shadows. A region famous for its sea, but where nature expresses its beauty anywhere, in particular, in the less known mountains. To choose the location for us meant bringing back memories of our youth and of our many road trips in Sila (the most famous mountain in Calabria) with the only desire to discover places full of memories and still not completely explored.
‘Maybe the most difficult part was to get the eye used to a slower rhythm, trying to catch every element that surrounds you.’
The feeling of loneliness and longing for nature is present and prevails as the central feeling in the story. What is the impression you got from shooting in this beautiful region?
Having the opportunity to shoot in such places, full of energy, was really stimulating. Maybe the most difficult part was to get the eye used to a slower rhythm, trying to catch every element that surrounds you. The nature in Calabria is lush and nostalgic at the same time. The best choice is to let yourself be carried away by its colours, its perfumes, and to feel back home again.
‘Our purpose is to describe the contemporary Mediterranean, far from the stereotype in which a meaningful interpretation of the past is key to a challenging stylistic evolution.’
Tell about the Milan-based Studio Mare, the projects you work on, and the main goals you pursue.
The three of us, Margherita, Luigi, and Marco, officially founded Studio Mare in October 2020. Studio, means the reflexive work we do on the territory, while Mare refers to the Mediterranean Sea - the main focus of our research. Our purpose is to describe the contemporary Mediterranean, far from the stereotype in which a meaningful interpretation of the past is key to a challenging stylistic evolution.
Which moment from this project is most precious to you?
The best moment for us was watching the images the following days: the pictures led us to those places again, we felt surrounded by the silence of the mountains with all the charm and strength, giving us the willingness to start a new adventure.
