GUERRA E PACE WAR … OR PEACE?

by

War brings destruction. Death. Pain. Pride. Enrichment of some, impoverishment of many. Yet “the Light Shines in the Darkness,” writes Leo Tolstoy, author of the novel that inspired this issue of Segmento.

In the cover image of this issue of Segmento , the light filters through the bars of the window, blinding the woman. Defending her eyes from the glare is a gesture of the hand – an immediate response of the body to the unexpected. The switch from a positive image to a negative image draws us to a stark, internal contemplation of the human condition. Our fragility in the face of events beyond our control. The wars that are taking place today directly impact the millions being displaced from their homelands or forced to endure extreme hardship while living among dilapidated buildings – and indirectly impact us all. Will we raise our hand to protect our sight?

The photographer Renato Colangelo describes how he felt during the shooting of these powerfully evocative images: Exploring my ancestral homeland, I encountered dormant secrets and halfforgotten ghosts. I hear their memories, see their faces at times in my dreams, and feel their deeds relentlessly pushed around by every breath of wind in every corner, filling the space around us in a ceaseless, disorderly movement. Slowly, quietly, the disharmonious beauty unfolds and dissonant elements are nurtured into relationships.

Renato was inspired by the traditional and ritualistic dance and music of Southern Italy as a sign of forging peace: The concept behind this work stems from a recent engagement with my ancestral homeland and the exploration of how our ancestors formed relationships with their village. In turn, the work reflects their daily sacrifices and displacement by portraying gestures and repetitive movements.

When working on this project, in fact, Renato was inspired by the late Italian photographer Luigi Ghirri (1988, pp. 87–94 ) and his essay A Gate onto the River:

Everything remains on the surface, we envisioned the land as a thin sheet of steel, which lets nothing through: thus memories, faces, deeds and people move around and do not sink and disappear.

The concepts of war and peace, life and death, positive and negative are all present in this photographic project that was born out of a need to retrieve the human connection to the past:

This exploration via body, gesture, and shadow as metaphors for lived experiences is intimately connected with the core needs of human existence. Using patterned ways of moving and thinking, I’ve discovered naturally evocative movements that connect with archetypes and myths. Melancholy emerges from awareness that life will always be haunted by memories of the past, while awaiting the new or different is an interval always marked by tedium.

The cover image was photographed in Verbicaro (a small mountain town in the province of Cosenza, Calabria). Rosa and I have a deep connection to this town, which stems from when we lived there almost 20 years ago. On this occasion, our objective was to honor the dilapidated part of town with offerings of gestural and repetitive movements. The images came to me like in a dream.

Renato Colangelo

Melbourne VIC CO.AS.IT

CHIACCHIERATE CONCERTANTI: MUSIC AND CONVERSATIONS ON THE GREAT ITALIAN TRADITION

Friday evenings with Ilaria Crociani and Mirko Guerrini.

Songwriters behind the scenes: Giorgio Gaber, Ivan Fossati, Cristina Donà (Special guest: Ryan Griffith) 2 December, 6.30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Free events. Registration essential: https://www.coasit.com.au/ 189-199 Faraday St, Carlton VIC 3053

Melbourne VIC Whitehorse Function Centre Members Lounge

SICILIAN NIGHT DINNER DANCE 2022

Annual dinner dance celebrating Sicilian Night & Christmas Breakup with an authentic members lounge menu curated at the Whitehorse Function Centre

Saturday, 3 December 2022 6.30 p.m. – 11.59 p.m. AEDT Whitehorse Function Centre, 298–336 Burwood Hwy, Burwood East VIC 3151

Tickets for sale at: https://www.eventbrite.com.au

Sydney NSW The Italian Cultural Institute in Sydney & Ritz Cinemas

PASOLINI: A CENTENARY RETROSPECTIVE

A series of screenings to celebrate the centenary of Pasolini’s birth. Screening every Sunday from 16 October to 11 December.

Melbourne

VIC Dante Alighieri Society Melbourne Inc.

DANTE'S DIVINE COMEDY 2022INFERNO AND PURGATORIO

10 weeks reading course in English presented by Dr Simon West.

Rescheduled: End 2022 – beginning 2023 Information: dante.alighieri.melbourne@gmail.com

In association with Istituto Italiano di Cultura Sydney, Cinema Reborn, Cineteca Bologna and Fare Cinema 2022

Full program and tickets at: https://www.ritzcinemas.com.au

Melbourne

VIC Dante Alighieri Society Melbourne Inc.

POLITICA, POTERE E PRINCIPI: IL PRINCIPE DI MACHIAVELLI

Course in Italian presented by Dante Alighieri Giovani, with Nicholas Sgro-Traikovski

Starting early 2023

Information: dante.alighieri.melbourne@gmail.com

Perth WA Dante Alighieri Society WA

CINEFORUM DANTE –SECOND SEASON

1 December 2022 –La banda degli onesti (1956)

Tuart College, Block A Room 120 upstairs, 105 Banksia Street, Tuart Hill, WA 6060 Book your ticket at https://www.eventbrite.com.au

Brisbane QLD Italian Chamber of Commerce&Industry in Queensland

ICCI QLD & NT CHRISTMAS LUNCH AND BUSINESS

Excellence Awards

ICCI QLD & NT Christmas Business Networking Lunch with the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, the Right Honourable Cr Adrian Schrinner, and Business Awards

1 December 2022

11.45 a.m. – 2.30 p.m. AEST Tickets for sale at: https://www.eventbrite.com.au

Brisbane QLD CO.AS.IT Brisbane

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY HIGH TEA

Co.As.It. Community Services has a reputation for hosting unmissable events such as their annual International Women’s Day High Tea. Expanding to welcome our wonderful growing community, the 2023 event will be held at The Greek Club in West End. With the enigmatic Kim Skubris at the helm, it will be yet another fun-filled celebration including a fashion parade, fabulous food, prizes and much, much more. Rejoice in the stunning theme of “Sicily” – the event is sure to capture the imagination of all who attend.

We look forward to welcoming you to this event on 11 March 2023.

Brisbane QLD Società Dante

Alighieri Brisbane

Annual Dinner And 70th Anniversary

Direct from Italy, the Italian tenors Evans Tonon, Sabino Gaita, and Luca Sala will be returning in 2022 for their fourth Australia tour. A worldwide popopera phenomenon, their show cannot be missed by those who love the arias of Puccini and Verdi, the Neapolitan songs of Caruso and Mario Merola, and the hits of Sanremo.

9 December 2022

6.30 p.m. for a 7.00 p.m. start ANFE – Wyandra St, Teneriffe QLD Book ASAP 0401 927 967 or info@dante-alighieri.com.au

Previous events have SOLD OUT weeks in advance.

Don’t miss out – register your interest: https://www.coasit.asn.au

Sydney NSW The Italian Cultural Institute in Sydney

MULTI-ETHNIC ITALY: THE NEW ITALIANS

This series of screenings is dedicated to some of the most significant contemporary cultural and social aspects of Italian life as well as representative figures of Italian cinema.

19 October at 7 p.m: The Vice of Hope

16 November at 7 p.m: Tigers

Tickets for sale at http://www.palacecinemas.com.au/