If someone says "A trip around the world", my childhood fantasies come to mind. I remember Salgari or the dirigible of "that" particular voyage around the world in eighty days. It is an ancient dream full of childhood fragrances and the aspirations of adulthood.
Places, encounters, adventures: many trips are taken during a photographer's lifetime. Yet this is different: it is a single flight, my very own voyage around the world. It is a special voyage for many reasons.
Its purpose, the memories and, perhaps, even the photographs are unforgettable and unique. The purpose is easy enough to understand: the idea was to tell the story of Maglificio Fedeli, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary. It is a brand, a family and an idea so marvellous and strong that it avoids all celebratory rhetoric.
It was a trip with a sweater and a camera, a black sweater that is a symbol not only of Fedeli. It is a symbol of communication, a synthesis, a thread of yarn able to link people who are far away. These men and women might be in different places, yet in some way they see each other, recognise each other and they interact. They communicate and breathe the same air.
Thus this voyage around the world is actually the story of many encounters. There are faces, wrinkles, eyes, expressions, even voices.
I sought out people in their own habitat wearing a universal symbol that belongs to everyone. I often came across kindness and strength or, better yet, the strength and power of kindness. I'd like this sensation and sequence of emotions to emerge in my photos. Hopefully.
(Carlo Orsi, in in Faithful. People around the world [Milan: Skira, 2004], 7)
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