The Invisible City
Paolo Manzo
Winner of the 2023 Pierre & Alexandra Boulat Award
“La città invisibile” (The Invisible City) is a photographic project exploring the roots of the social, economic and cultural problems plaguing the city of Naples. I have spent years documenting the consequences of ineffective policies and the failure of authorities to intervene. The purpose of my work is to show the dark side of economic inequality, social injustice and urban segregation. I have tried to tell the stories of people struggling to survive in the most marginalized areas such as Afragola, Caivano, Ponticelli, Secondigliano, Torre Annunziata, Pianura and Scampia. These are all neighborhoods that sprang up after the 1981 earthquake to house the population displaced from the city center.
Sub-standard and dishonest building practices have turned these areas into a precarious and violent habitat, where residents are trapped in poverty, living in a degrading environment, and with guns and drugs.
Preview
Naples has a high crime rate and suffers from “educational poverty” with more and more young people falling into the category known as “NEET,” i.e. not in employment, education or training. Opportunities for the younger generation are closely linked to family background and socio-economic conditions. Living in these districts on the outskirts of the city brings a greater risk of dropping out of school and involvement in illegal activities. This in turn gives rise to a sense of insecurity, fueling a vicious circle that makes living conditions even worse.
Paolo Manzo
