Topografie Flegree explores the territories of Bacoli, Pozzuoli and Monte di Procida as stratified landscapes, the result of the constant interaction between history, nature, and human action. Far from a descriptive or picturesque approach, the project focuses on the ordinary and on marginal areas, where the intersection of urban, rural, and peri-urban environments emerges in complex and fragmented forms. Their proximity to Naples places these places in a liminal condition: spaces that belong neither fully to the periphery nor to the center, yet exist in a state of continuous transformation. Through visual juxtapositions and relationships, the images establish a dialogue between memory and change, between permanence and fragility, reflecting the tensions that define the identity of the Phlegraean landscape. The photographs unfold as a visual map, a tool for reading and questioning the territory, revealing how humans continuously shape, alter, and redefine the spaces they inhabit, and exposing the delicate balance between permanence and transformation.
Born in Naples in 1996, my hometown shaped my worldview, teaching me to observe space and understand the intricate relationships that are created with it. During my university studies in architecture, I developed a parallel interest in photography, using it as a tool for research and documentation. The photographic language became my main means to explore and narrate what I see through the lens, investigating the physical environment that surrounds us, scrutinizing not only the architectural elements, but also the human relationships that interact with space. Each shot represents an attempt to absorb the atmosphere of the place, allowing the context to suggest its stories. Photography thus becomes a form of visual narration that seeks to capture the essence of places and human connections in a delicate balance between art and documentation.
© Text and pictures by Andrea Matino
