SISMA80: Photographic Exhibition on the 1980 Irpinia Earthquake in Naples

Over 100 historical photographs documenting the 1980 Irpinia earthquake are on display at the Convento di San Domenico Maggiore in Naples from February 12 to March 31, 2021. The exhibition, titled SISMA80 – 23 novembre ore 19.34, was curated by photojournalist Luciano Ferrara and features works from numerous photographers and archives, including Luciano D’Alessandro, Mimmo Jodice, and the Ferrara Photographic Archive. The earthquake struck on November 23, 1980, killing nearly 3,000 people, injuring over 8,000, and displacing 280,000. The show also includes a video installation by Gix Musella and Elio Di Pace, and an infographic map installation. Originally scheduled to open on November 23, 2020, the exhibition was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is promoted by the Naples City Council's Department of Culture and Tourism, produced by noos aps, and organized by tribunali138. Ferrara dedicated the exhibition to the city and region, emphasizing the ongoing wounds from the earthquake. Councillor Eleonora de Majo stressed the need for collective reflection on how the disaster transformed Naples' social, anthropological, and economic fabric.