If it was a state it would be anarchic
If it was a flag it would the rainbow
If it was an industry it would create sins
If it was an house it would have 4 doors
If it was a neighborhood...that would be San Berillo in Catania
Francesco Grasso, 31 May 2016 from his book “Ho sposato San Berillo”
The Sicilian mythology of the Trinacria recalls the symbol of Medusa, a gorgon with the head of snakes, where upon one look would turn any human being into stone.
This project has been photographed in a neighbourhood of San Berillo and its surrounding area; one of the oldest and largest red-light district in Europe. Today, in this forgotten place, adjacent to the city center of Catania, Sicily, a contrasting city breathes and survives.
In a past deluged in heavy prostitution, drug dealing, and attempts to regenerate, the identity of the area remains the same. The humans of San Berillo resolute and striking enough to render you stagnant with one gaze. Vanity and passion are common states of mind amongst them and this story wants to explore the boundaries of fashion mixed with the strength of this unique place.
