Fujenti
“Those who run”
I’d been shooting processions or some sort of one virtually every trip. It absolutely fascinated me, a poetic dance that occurs in every neighbourhood of Naples. It’s like watching a theatrical ballet every Sunday morning, performed in a dimly lit, tight squeeze alley. A ceremony practiced for 100’s of years.
I’d never seen anything like it before. Each one unique to an area, the subtle differences in sound, movement and style. Even more beautiful is the rare occasion when two processions meet. A sort of mating dance-esque ritual ensues where the two banner squads combine to dance and pass each other.
On Easter Monday of each year, tens of thousands of Fujenti flock to the church of Madonna dell’Arco, nestled right under the Vesuvio to flow into the church and pay respects to the Virgin Mary. Some walking 4/5 hours barefoot.
The Fujenti are often from a class that are less protected/ less supported, divided into different associations.
Once inside, the Fujenti crawl or kneel and make their way to the fresco of the Madonna Dell’Arco, some moved to tears at the loss of someone close, some breaking out in song, some so overwhelmed they collapse and convulse.
The festival is an intriguing mixture of sacred and profane. Two crowds attending who view religion through the same eyes but with different connotations.
Those who religion serves as a daily ritual and those that religion serves as forgiveness, repentance and protection for usually nefarious activities.
“In these extremely theatrical, but, at the same time, intensely religious forms, the image of the wounded Madonna, of the loving and pained mother, seems to rise to a symbol of protection from the offending of a fate and society equally unjust”.
The timing was never quite right, Covid happened, I’d always just miss the festival for some reason or another. It became this situation that was in the back of my mind every single day. So whilst I waited, shooting the processions on the weekends for a larger body of work, I read almost everything I could find online waiting for Easter. Many people helped this project, but I have to thank Loris Spadaro in particular, someone who I have admired for some years with an incredible body of work.
In a sense this has been my own pilgrimage and something that needs to be experienced to be understood. Much like how I’ve felt with my photography work over the past few years. I implore you to keep going, spend time on things, don’t rush, when its right you will know. Whatever your passion, keep the outside out and get on with it. Water your garden.
This one’s to show the world just a small facet of this amazing city but also more importantly, to close a door that’s been wide open in my head for a while.
In honour of Cliff, my Grandad, who left us on this day the year previously, April 1st forever becoming an important day in my life.
Sono grato alle persone che ho conosciuto lungo questo cammino, sono grato per l'ospitalità e l'amore incondizionato che questa città offre. Per me e molti altri, questo posto offre un'ispirazione ed un'energia che non potrebbe essere trovata da nessun'altra parte. Il mio unico desiderio è quello di mostrare la bellezza del Napoletano, anche con tutte le sue complessità.
