Retracing the past through the photography of the present: this is the focus of the photographic exhibition organised by the Municipality of Mirano with the collaboration of Euro&Promos Social Health Care.
An exhibition that investigates the most intimate aspect of the experience of individuals, through stories and personal memories, together with moments of everyday life captured by photography.
The project – with free admission – will be on display on Friday 17 December, from 3:30 pm to 6 pm, and on Saturday 18, from 10 am to 12:30 pm and from 3:30 pm to 6 pm, in the municipal hall of via Bastia Fuori n. 58, Mirano (VE).
The protagonists of the exhibition are the elderly people of the Arcobaleno Day Centre in Vetrego, who represent traditions of the past and memories of a distant life, together with children: the future and innovation.
“The initial project was different,” explains Deborah D’Avenia, Area Manager of Euro&Promos Social Health Care, one of the creators of the initiative, “but Covid has changed everything. We had planned to involve local schools with the idea of holding several themed days: snacks, playtime between grandparents and children, but unfortunately we had to adapt to the restrictions by reinventing the project and limiting the number of young visitors”. In spite of the difficulties caused by the health emergency, “the result of the work has given rise to some wonderful moments,” continues D’Avenia. “We have managed to give space to the sharing of time and memories between adults and children: a way of recalling a childhood that is certainly different from that of today, experiences from which children can learn.”
The centre’s objective is to help the elderly socialise and interact through playful moments that foster social relations: hence the idea of this photographic exhibition.
It was decided to include in the exhibition the various projects and workshops that take place daily in the Arcobaleno Day Centre, such as tending the vegetable garden, creating objects for the markets, sewing and knitting.
“The elderly told their stories in their totality, uniqueness and centrality, recognising their cultural and experiential background in a logic of reciprocal and constructive exchange,” says D’Avenia. In fact, the guests of the Arcobaleno centre actively participated in the creation of the entire project, through stories, objects and manual activities. They shared their experiences, affections and memories of their lives in an interview conducted by the centre’s operators. They also created “boxes of memories” – displayed in the exhibition – to collect objects, photographs and writings that were significant to them.
The exhibition also aims to offer the visitor an intergenerational confrontation thanks to the presence of children in the pictures on display. The youngest were involved in the simplicity of everyday activities and outdoor leisure moments spent together with the elderly.
“We would like to thank the municipal administration of Mirano for the important collaboration and the operators of Euro & Promos Social Health Care: Francesca Fabris, Anna Formica and Iwona Szewczyk, working at the centre. Thanks to them it was possible to realise the project. – D’Avenia emphasises: “This photographic exhibition is a good way of bringing these stories into the homes of anyone who wants to read them.
The initiative will take place according to anti-covid protocols, and access will be allowed only to green pass holders.
DOWNLOAD THE EXHIBITION BROCHURE HERE
