Frederico Arcangeli
Pleasure Island
A well-known tourist destination, in the summer period Rimini wakes up from its sluggishness of a small city lazily overlooking the sea, capable of attracting millions of people, becoming the capital of the clubs and nightlife of the Italian east coast.
“Even if the world is full of beautiful stuff, full of countries that like most of the village, as soon as the sun falls and comes in the evening, sitting in a chair who knows where, slowly inside your head, this place becomes the most beautiful place of the world. But how will you do…But how will you stay away from the village?” (from the movie Amarcord)
Muse and inspiration of great artists that described it though their eyes, such as native-born photographer Marco Pesaresi with his black and white shots, or great director Federico Fellini, thanks to whom, in the 70’s, Rimini became famous in the whole world after his film Amarcord. A movie telling the life the inhabitants of an oneiric Rimini, perpetually suspended between childhood dreams and teenage turmoil. During the 80’s clubs and discos lived their golden age, with a large number of visitors, VIP’s and a display of extreme luxury which led to the 90’s, where luxury and strict selection at the entrance of clubs made way for experimentation, afterhours parties and music research. Despite the fact that times have changed and several historic clubs are now shut down for good, Rimini can still charm night people who long for transgression so much.
This project by Federico Arcangeli came alive a bit by chance. Born at first more as a photo-diary of nights out going clubbing with friends, it then becomes the slice of an era, not far from its bygone splendour. Through his lens and his images he carries us to those clubs, drenched in that dreamy atmosphere that only the “Riviera” (Romagna coast) can create. Thanks to his shots we meet again those Felliniesque characters in fun and grotesque situations. We find couples dancing and holding each other, following love rituals which last a nighttime and disappear at sunrise; we find eternal youngsters who never get old, as if in Neverland. What comes out is the portrait of a sultry, sexy, charming town which resembles a playground, where one can let oneself be tempted.
Aldo Bonomi, (Sondrio, 1950). Sociologist, teacher and founder of AASTER. Observer of the territorial forms of contemporary capitalism.
Short Bio
Federico Arcangeli was born in Rimini in 1983, small city on Italy’s east coast, where he currently lives and works as a nurse.
In 2014 He discovered his passion for photography, especially for analog photography. In May 2014, he founded the blog “People_Are_Strangers” where he publishes his shots.
He takes part in some competitions with excellent results and becomes a selected photographer of World Street Photography community.
In 2015 He becomes a member of the collective Romagna Street Photography. In september 2015 He is finalist for the Marco Pesaresi award with his project, about Rimini’s beach, “Summer Attitude”.
His photos and works have been exhibited in England, California, Florida, Germany, Spain, Ireland and Italy and they have been published on magazines and national and international art platforms.