Modestino Tozzi's Photographs Capture Matera's Deserted Beauty

Photographer Modestino Tozzi, born in Busto Arsizio in 1978 and raised in Matera, has created a series of photographs taken in 2019 that depict Matera's historic Sassi district as eerily empty, despite the city being crowded with tourists. Tozzi waited for moments when people left the frame, revealing details like satellite dishes, small tables on terraces, and plants on balconies that signal a new life in the formerly abandoned homes. His work, described by artist Pietro Paolo Tarasco, explores the tension between Matera's past suffering and its current transformation. Tozzi, who also lived in Canada and now resides in Como, was influenced by encounters with Tarasco, Franco Fontana, and Letizia Battaglia. The photographs evoke memories and emotions through light and shadow, showing a city that was once abandoned after being used as a set for Pasolini's 'The Gospel According to St. Matthew' and later described by poet Mario Luzi as a 'marvelous ossified universe.' Tozzi's images, published in Artribune Magazine #53, reflect his deep connection to his hometown and his ability to capture its haunting beauty.