Yarin Trotta del Vecchio's 'Nisida' Photographs Incarcerated Youth in Catania

Photographer Yarin Trotta del Vecchio (b. 1991) presents 'Nisida' at 2LAB gallery in Catania, a series documenting young inmates in Italy's juvenile detention system. The exhibition's poster shows a boy with open arms in the Mediterranean. Italy has 17 juvenile penal institutes (IPM) with about 300 inmates under 25, a low number attributed to educational programs. Nisida IPM stands out for its diverse offerings: a library, a theater (currently closed), and vocational training in ceramics, nativity scene art, construction, and pastry-making. Trotta del Vecchio spent a year photographing during the pandemic, when the inmate group remained stable. His images depict bodies without recognizable faces, avoiding blurring while preserving anonymity. The project aims to show the youths as young people, not criminals. A talk with juvenile court judge Emma Seminara accompanied the opening, discussing the implications of incarceration and the importance of avoiding stereotypes. Trotta del Vecchio's work contrasts with the PAC Milan exhibition 'RI-SCATTI. Per me si va tra la perduta gente,' where inmates and guards photographed their own daily life. 'Nisida' rejects the panopticon model, fostering a reciprocal gaze and transforming subjects from objects to agents of communication.