IF: Return (Ritorno)

Three years ago, on 6th April 2009, when I left home the night of the earthquake, I thought it would be for just a few hours. I had not realized that my hometown had disappeared.

Tre anni fa, il 6 aprile 2009, quando ho lasciato la mia casa, la notte del terremoto, pensavo che saremmo ritornati dopo qualche ora. Non mi ero resa conto che la mia città non esisteva più.

Each of the keys that hang from the barrier once opened a door to somebody's home.
Ognuna delle chiavi che ora sono appese alla transenna, una volta apriva la porta della casa di qualcuno.

Two years ago (Due anni fa)

Two years ago, it was the day before.
Due anni fa, era il giorno prima.

IF: Mail (Posta)

Dear Santa,
I would really like to have my town back.
Thank you.

Caro Babbo Natale,
mi piacerebbe molto riavere la mia città.
Grazie.

IF: Immovable

"Immota manet" ("It remains immovable") is my hometown's motto.
L'Aquila has survived many earthquakes. I hope it will survive this one too.
But it will never be the same. It did not remain unmoved.

Ciao, papi

On June 15 my dad passed away, in a hospital in Padova, far from home.
He wanted to recover.
He wanted to visit Berlin, to buy a bicycle, to learn to play the guitar, to return to L'Aquila.
He loved books, Jorge Luis Borges, music,humor, teaching, his family, his hometown.
He was shy, gentle and very loved.
This was his library. This was him.

New year's resolutions

To fly high.
To show claws.


Watercolor.
L'Aquila (The Eagle) is also the name of my hometown.
Inspired by a photograph by Baldovino Midali.