On the Beach
On the beach it is a collection of some 40 black and white images taken, over four summers (from 2002 to 2005), at some of the greatest Italian seaside resorts. Four summers spent discovering how, in Italy, a beach vacation is commonly spent. Four summers spent discovering the Italian ever mutating landscapes.
The plan was conceived with the intent of supplying a single collective portrait, through a prevailing place in our common identity, as an archetype of being Italian. This reportage was exhibited at the International Festival of Rome FotoGrafia 2006 , and chosen to be part of the four exhibitions of FotoGrafia Litorale.
Angelo Antolino has captured a flavour of Italy of the fifties in sharp black and white shots entitled “sulla spiaggia” (On the beach). It can be clearly noted however that his search revealing a dream of current well-being is timeless and so human - mythical models of luxurious holidays, ideals that man must accept because modernity is less generous that the past for the lower class. With a certain loneliness typical of Pasolini and bygone times lingering in the photographs, Antolino creates a political and poetical feeling that clearly demonstrates an overpowering desire for amusement of an eternal Italy, unmentioned in journalistic headlines. An eloquent and enlightening enquiry into society.
The presentation by Titti Marone at the exhibition held in May 2006 for FotoGrafia – Festival Internazionale di Roma.
