Carlo Lombardi

Carlo Lombardi took part in two editions of Giovane Fotografia Italiana with the project Dead Sea in 2018 and with the project La carne dell’orso in 2023.

DEAD SEA

Dead Sea is a research into the causes that are leading to the extinction of the loggerhead sea turtle in the Mediterranean Sea. These animals are sensitive to many human activities: coastal humanization, unlimited construction works, disorientation caused by artificial light at breeding sites, pollution, pathogens, global warming, tourism and accidental fishing are the main threats for this species.

The loggerhead sea turtle lives throughout the oceans and seas all over the world, and prefers breeding in temperate and subtropical regions. Since 2015, this sea turtle has been included to the IUCN Red List and it has been classified as vulnerable: its worldwide population is reducing. Its subpopulation of the Mediterranean Sea is mainly found along the coasts of the Eastern basin, while fewer nests are recorded along the Western coasts. Each year sees around 150,000 specimens captured and 40,000 killed, mainly due to fishing, but also to being hit by boats and ingesting pieces of plastic.

Despite being the evil-doer of this story, mankind also possesses all the tools and solutions needed to put an end to this massacre. For instance, there is a network of professionals who volunteer in research, data collection, communication and promotion: each year, thanks to their work, hundreds of specimens are saved and released back into the sea.

The project is completed with the sound installation Approfondire by Daniele Di Girolamo.

Project presented in Giovane Fotografia Italiana #06 | ACTIVISM

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LA CARNE DELL’ORSO

The project aims to provide a vision on the fragile relationship between human and nature through an investigation into the ethical, symbolic and anthropological evolution of conservation practices adopted over time to protect the Apennine bears.

Juxtaposing contemporary photographs with historical images from the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park’s archive presented as “evidence” for factual context, the work brings attention to the anthropocentric approach behind the supposed objectivity of conservation efforts – the aesthetic and symbolic identification with animals as well as our longings projected on nature. It’s a reflection on humanity’s role in conservation endeavors and the subjective factors that drive our choices to protect nature and consequentially define it.

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