In the central region of Lazio, Italy, to the southern reaches of the country, Vincenzo Pagliuca follows the Apennines in search of characteristic, lonely houses.
In a country that has seen a declining population in many of its regions – the famous offering financial incentives for those willing to move to small communities, abandoned houses have become a common feature of the rural landscape.
“Ever since I was a child, I have had a strong attraction to empty and lonely houses, which is quite common in the Italian hinterland,” says Pagliuca. With an analogue film camera he traveled through southern Italy in search of unique locations.
Pagliuca series monos is based on the ancient Greek word for alone, which also means unique or singular. He looked for specific lighting conditions by taking portraits of stone, concrete and wooden structures in winter and at sunrise.
Pagliuca compares the isolated houses to “places of dream and meditation, which invite us to reflect on the symbolic meaning of the house for humans.” Small, faded and sometimes quirky structures are devoid of people or current signs of use, yet stand prominently amid mountain plains and along country roads as reminders of past lives.
monos was published in book form by Hartmannwhere copies are still for sale. Discover more about Pagliuca’s website And Instagram.
