Location: ITALIA

Lanterna “Beach” is a long-term project that documents, from 2015, a community of male bathers in a town in Southern Italy, where I was born and raised, before leaving my country. The work explores the relationship between this peculiar community and the nature of the Pier where they sunbathe and rendezvous from Summer to Winter.

An Italian tale unfolds through the search for a sense of belonging and the exploration of the relationship between territory, tradition, and identity. A community of bathers has organically adjusted a port pier into a social refuge. Despite this space is publicly restricted, people have used it since ever, paradoxically reinventing this brutal unusable concrete infrastructure in an idyllic spot for relaxing and recreational activities hence the new name of “Lanterna Beach”.

The visual narrative is intentionally contaminated: documentary elements intertwine with dreamlike glimpses. This approach conceptually creates a new dimension where light and shadow blend: reality merges with the ethereal and vice versa, offering a space where the demystification of certain conventions and traditions is essential for generating a new, more intimate interpretative key.

Focusing on physical details and rituals, a delicate exploration is conducted to challenge numerous stereotypes and preconcepts, delving into subjects such as masculinity, vulnerability, and self-awareness. The shape of the bodies and the tattoos also tell personal stories of pain and identity. The bathers’ rituals – moments of purification and renewal – show men in a state of exposure, not only physical but also emotional, creating a fascinating contrast with the traditional concept of masculinity.

The images in their whole make up a visual map – and show me the way – to reconnect with home and rediscover my roots. Each portrait, tattoo, and anatomical detail represents not only the photographed subjects but also my inner journey. Through my lens, I aim to capture the heartbeat of the life which animates this kind of space – a tribute to the beauty hidden in ordinary places and in the everyday life of the people who inhabit them. With this work, I invite the viewer to reflect on the human condition, on the sense of belonging, and on the ability to transform and adapt to the places we inhabit.

ABOUT MARIANO DORONZO

Mariano Doronzo (b.1986) is a photographer and published poet from Italy. In 2022, he completed a long-term mentorship program at Magnum Photos with Matt Black and Susan Meiselas.

Currently living between Rome (IT) and Nottingham (UK), Mariano works mainly with analogue equipment whilst also expanding his skills in the darkroom from processing film to handmade traditional printing.