Mantinieri

Mantinieri is a documentary analogue photographer who has been photographing for 40 years. During this time and through thorough experimentation, he developed his own printing method with a modified custom printer which prints chemical-free carbon pigments onto 100% cotton paper. He calls this technique “carbon-gelatine printing”. Mantinieri still uses analogue cameras he purchased three to four decades ago and he describes his carbon-gelatine printing process as far more archival and richer than even silver-gelatine printing. 

The analogue format photographs of Mantinieri focus almost exclusively on the communities and people of Southern Italy and the Global South. In this essay, we will be focusing on his photographs of the Silento Italian region, which tend to be his very finest from a compositional, poetic, and aesthetical perspective. Silento has a rich history dating back to ancient times when the area was roaded directly to Rome and served as a pinnacle part of the Roman empires’ agriculture output. Located on the ‘boot-end’ of Italy, Silento is captured in full magnificence by Mantinieri’s photography. With aging infrastructure and a weathered population, he captures the quiet narrative of Silento through centuries-old fountains, vintage bicycles laying against sturdy cement-brick buildings, and residents in solitude pursuing the ominous, desolate streets and alley-ways of these ancient townships. Aspects of everyday, traditional methods of life are on display in the photographs, such as a stunning flag-like display of fine linen being hung out to air dry amidst a brick alley on the side of an aging building. 

With a deep sense of character and vivid texture, Mantinieri captures stunning detail and nuance which even rival advanced digital cameras with large sensors. His aging yet superb cameras and graceful eye capture the nuanced cracks on the side of buildings, the droplets of water and moldy moss from the edge of a fountain, and the fine yet rugged finish of stone-and-brick roadways within the ancient townships of Silento. Shooting entirely in black-and-white, we are drawn towards the subjects without the filters of color. Mantinieri’s carefully composed compositions are magnificently guided towards a sense of intimacy, authenticity, and respect towards his subjects. His characters engage their surroundings with relaxed, unimposed comfort and the architectural structures within his compositions are captured with such intense light and textured surface as if they have an untold narrative to reveal of their mysterious history. The atmospheric tension in these photographs are palpable as we are guided towards quiet, historic towns which are based in various fine traditions and a culture where intimacy, courtesy, and respect are part of the fabric of life. These photographs are as if a subtle symphony had hummed through a fine theatrical display, only to foreshadow a forlonged anticipation. Although based in documentary, the intense shadow and light works creates atmospheric tension on par with the finest theatre. 

Silento V. 13 (pictured above) remains one of Mantinieri’s most exquisite photographs. The perfect symmetry and dichotomy between the darkness of the roadway benches against the dark windows and doors across the street creates a dramatic scene based on an aging yet lively town. Devoid of citizens, the streets look busy and full of character due to the fine qualities of the classical infrastructure, creating an ominous, mysterious composition. 

With a sophisticated eye and experimental printing processes, quality remains at the forefront behind the artistic vision of Mantinieri. His works are best savored with a fine glass of wine and appreciated for their immense textural, compositional, and contrasted complexity. If classical music were photography, they would appear like the works of Mantinieri. In these hollowed-out ancient towns full of aging infrastructure and traditional residents, we will find mystique and a deep harrowing sense of poetic mindfulness.

https://www.mantinieri.com