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: Stir (Rimescolare, agitare, suscitare)

The earthquake in Japan stirred memories.

Il terremoto in Giappone ha risvegliato ricordi.



Thank you to Butoh dancers for inspiration and to Cristina for the acrylic gesso tutorial.
Grazie ai danzatori Butoh per l'ispirazione e a Cristina per il suo tutorial sull'uso del gesso acrilico.

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.

DIY

Almost one year has passed, and the earthquake debris still have not been removed.
The town center is still closed to the people who used to live or work there.
Many or us have not even seen it after the earthquake.
We have had enough of it.
Thus, the people of L'Aquila decided to remove the debris by themselves and have been doing it, with wheelbarrows and buckets, for three weeks now.
On 28th February I was there with my family (my husband and my eldest daughter are in the drawing above). I met so many of my fellow citizen whom I hadn't been seeing for months, I saw the main street full of life, smiling faces, voices, again. I felt part of a community, again.
We all were there to demonstrate, but also to work, in a very concrete way.
It was beautiful.
It felt like home. Almost.