– Notes for post lockdown humanity 

Photography has always been a feigned realist, mistaken for reality it always provides partial information. Despite their verisimilitude, photographs always remain interpretations that change according to the available knowledge that the photographer chooses and the subjective perception of the beholder. 

Recently a poem by Leopardi, written in 1836 but more valid than ever, “The Gorse or desert Flower” came to mind. It sharply criticises the human presumption that considers mankind as immortal and not constrained by natural laws. It is important now more than ever given the lack of propensity of our governments to change environmental protection policies that are totally inadequate in comparison to the urgency of the moment. We should all feel responsible for what is happening and raise awareness to guide the choices we make every day, from what we eat to how we dress, it all has a strong impact on environmental health. 

However, politics should be at the forefront of communicating and demonstrating the urgency of the moment we are experiencing. Instead we are witnessing a total lack of awareness only attached to economic profit. 

Sad evidence of this unfolding disaster can be seen all throughout Italy, where the current far-right government has introduced legislation to the detriment of wildlife and in favour of the gun lobby. These regulations will allow any hunter to freely shoot any wild animal anywhere, including within urban and protected areas at any time of year. All of these policies have been introduced as part of an economic manoeuvre. They approved regulations that will have serious consequences regarding the protection of animals and the environment in an economic manoeuvre and have also moved environmental protection under the Minister of Agriculture’s responsibility. When the environment and wildlife are treated as mere economic objects, something priceless and delicate is devalued with devastating consequences for the already precarious balance of our ecosystems. 

After several years I have picked up again this series of photographs, taken in a moment of total light-heartedness, but at the light of our increasingly serious climate emergency and continuous shocking events these images have taken on completely different shape, almost an omen of landscapes and biodiversity that are disappearing before our eyes and of which only traces will remain. It doesn’t matter where these photographs were taken, what matters is it’s hard to see a future if we don’t change.