2009

Bagnoli
(and italsider as extract-arrangement)

Works

In an ongoing investigation into industrial histories, the Neapolitan suburb of Bagnoli is now approached, – the resulting body of works directly inspired by the western seaside basin.

In the early 19th century, prior to the development of the region, there had been a long running dispute about the nature and direction of a possible improvement.  There were those backing the exploitation of the bay’s natural beauty as a tourist venue, as others proposed agriculture and general trade functions.  In the end a politician by the name of Francesco Saverio Nitti had headed a ‘master plan’ which was to draw interest and funding from the north, later to be followed by a local middle-class investment to ensure the steady industrialisation of the basin.  This was later manifest in the firm Ilva erecting basic architecture and facilities for the production and processing of steel, hence the birth of a thriving industry catering for a local and commuting work force of thousands.  The firm, later named Italsider, was, as a provider of work, the livelihood of a community – an important pillar in the shift of the fringe suburb from a rural beauty into an economic powerhouse.

Positive 1 and 2 (Wheel)
Found wooden facsimile of machine part, and copy there-of.
original: 46 Ø x 10 cm, replica: 20 Ø x 6 cm

When a large part for a machine is damaged or in need of replacing, a wooden facsimile is constructed in preparation for the making of a mould.

 

Box 1 and 2
Tool/machine parts box with replica. Found object, wood steel, grey paint.
40 x 23 x 9 cm

Exploded view of box for various machine parts. Original found on site, Bagnoli.

N 19
Indian Ink and white acrylic on paper
130 x 90 cm

Shelf 1, (technical drawings)
wooden shelf, glass, technical drawings under paper weight
170 x 34 x 5 cm

Filters 1
found oil filters, cabinet
77 x 74 x 12.5 cm

bagnoli (and italsider as extract-arrangement)
installation view

Ascension
Indian Ink and white acrylic on paper, frame
154 x 111 cm

Blade
Found cooling blade, black paint
250 x 40 x 4 cm

Positive 5 (Cross section)
found facsimile of machine part, wooden replica, paint
20 x 17 x 12 cm

Manual for the operation and maintenance of machinery in the ‘Department for the Production of Useless Things. (extract 2)
and
Shelf 2, (envelope and others)
installation view

Manual for the operation and maintenance of machinery in the ‘Department for the Production of Useless Things. (extract 2)
2 upside-down pages from found manual

The ‘Department for the Production of Useless Things’, was the concept of Bagnoli artist “blah blah” for a fictitious department, founded on the occasion of the closing of the Italsider factory 1992.  The title for the Department appropriately reflects the redundancy felt by many of the laid-off workers.

 

The artist made a sign for the department which is currently outside, in a kind of sculpture garden of the ‘Ilva Circcolo’, a club hosting former members of the factory complex. The pages shown here, are a proposed extract of the Department, – an unintelligible manual.

Shelf 2, (envelope and others) Wooden shelf, glass, original tie, folder cover, envelope, Ilva project documentation 170 x 34 x 5 cm

Silver on White
Found brochure for industry atomization, with doodle in logo.
72 x 42 cm

In 1984, the atomization of factory processes is introduced, the number of employees consequently drops from around 8000 to around 4000 or even fewer people.  Despite the modernization of Italsider, production finally tapers out, -the factories closing in 1992.

bagnoli (and italsider as extract-arrangement) installation view

Manual for the operation and maintenance of machinery in the ‘Department for the Production of Useless Things. (extract 1)
9 manual pages, frames, 35 x 25 cm (each)

The ‘Department for the Production of Useless Things’, was the concept of Bagnoli artist “blah blah” for a fictitious department, founded on the occasion of the closing of the Italsider factory 1992.  The title for the Department appropriately reflects the redundancy felt by many of the laid off workers.

 

The artist made a sign for the department which is currently outside, in a kind of sculpture garden of the ‘Ilva Circcolo’, a club hosting former members of the factory complex. The pages shown here, are a proposed extract of the Department, – an unintelligible manual.

Positive 3 and 4 (Arm with joint) Found wooden facsimile of machine part, paint. 30 x 30 x 8 cm
When a large part for a machine is damaged or in need of replacing, a wooden facsimile is constructed in preparation for the making of a mould.
Found on location, Bagnoli-Italsider.

When a large part for a machine is damaged or in need of replacing, a wooden facsimile is constructed in preparation for the making of a mould.

Bambini of Bagnoli
Machine embroidery, mounted on board.
35,5 x 27 cm

The image shows a program of recreational activities for Italsider factory workers’ children. This archival photo cir. 1950, was taken in the Bagnoli bay area.

Green Stuff from Bagnoli
overalls, juice decanter, cabinet
94 x 36 x 34 cm,

bagnoli (and italsider as extract-arrangement)
installation view

Shelf 4 (Shelf holding found archival photo).

The image (by Giulio Parisio, 1951) shows the beach terrace of the ‘Ilva Circolo Canottieri’.  Badly polluted from former industrial activities, the beach is mostly inaccessible, and places unrestricted still prohibit swimming due to the poor quality of the water. The majority of this pollution is due to the presence of heavy metals such as copper, mercury and cadmium, whilst inland there are additional traces of asbestos, a fibrous material formerly used in a range of applications for its properties of insulation and heat resistance.

1 Trofeo Italsider
Found trophy of steel and wood on shelf

On loan from office of Giovanni, Bagnoli Futura.

L’associazione Vox Nova presenta Bentornata Operetta
Found poster for event in the near future.

Upon finding, this poster was already drastically bleached by the sun,  – with the appearance of a 20 year-old item. On closer inspection the Operatic event advertised was still the future!

 

Found on location,  ‘Ilva Circcolo’, a club hosting former members of the factory complex.

Tie
wooden shelf, paint, glass
92 x 22 x 5 cm

Replica of a commemorative tie, Bagnoli-Italsider, 1960

Spines, overview
Rusted steel catalogue spines, enamel paint, furniture varnish, framed laser prints.

Rusted steel catalogue spines, enamel paint, furniture varnish, framed laser prints.

 

These spines were salvaged from a large pile of ashes, on location of the Bagnoli-Italsider terrain. Situated quite close to the control room of one of the blast furnaces, the spines were from the operation manuals and documentation of the process underwent. On leaving the factory in 1992, the local workers discarded and burnt the manuals, which have since sat in the rain for 20 years and rusted.

 

This piece is a salvation, taking one of the original Italsider folders, inverting it, and transposing its colour and proportions to the spines by means of dipping in paint.

Photographer: Danilo Donzelli