Art and the 1980 Irpinia Earthquake: Memory, Mourning, and Visual Anthropology

An earthquake hit Irpinia, Italy, on November 23, 1980, at 19:34, wreaking havoc throughout Campania, Irpinia, Lucania, and northern Puglia. This catastrophe resulted in the collapse of buildings and numerous fatalities, leaving a profound impact on those who survived. To process this sorrow, artists like photographer Luciano D'Alessandro (Naples 1933–2016) turned to their craft. His renowned photograph of survivors in a tent symbolizes shared grief. The "Terrae Motus" exhibition, curated by Lucio Amelio, showcased works such as Andy Warhol's triptych inspired by the Il Mattino headline "Fate presto" from November 26, 1980, and Luciano Fabro's "Le Italie." The article also discusses anthropologist Ernesto De Martino's "crisis of presence" and Vito Teti's insights on deserted villages and resilient communities. D'Alessandro's image features a survivor in Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi amid the devastation.