Massimiliano Corteselli’s “Contrapasso”

“Divine punishment and illegally set fires - Contrapasso by Massimiliano Corteselli uses profound images to explore forest fires in the Mediterranean region, most of which were set deliberately and are surrounded by archaic stories and wild rumours.”

Massimiliano studied a semester ahead of me at the Ostkreuz School of Photography in Berlin, and I first encountered his project in its entirety at his graduating class’s exhibition, “SIEBZEHN”. I find his approach both artistically and personally inspiring. Having supported me with his insights at some points during the development of my final project, and given our ongoing conversations about photography, I would like to dedicate this blog entry to him and his work, Contrapasso. We share the approach of interweaving fiction with reality, but his is mythological fiction derived from religion and folklore.

Through staged portraits, Massimiliano introduces us to individuals whose lives intersect with these illicit fires in different ways - those who have lost their homes and belongings to the flames, residents preserving regional traditions, and a younger generation coming of age amid these recurring calamities. He masterfully intertwines real events with the mythical framework of Dante’s “Inferno”, creating a conceptual fusion that enhances the narrative depth of his work.

The project also incorporates observational scenes that captivate with the same theatrical minimalism. Everyday objects become potent symbols through his use of light and composition: an abandoned ski lift silhouetted against a glowing sky resembles a black sword heralding doom, while deserted houses perched on a mountainside evoke the displacement of people from their homelands - though it remains unclear whether these homes were ever inhabited.

More than mere reportage, Massimiliano's images explore a profound, dark side of human emotions. Revenge, resentment and envy are motives of the arsonists and are translated into lasting visual impressions, always circling back to the fire as the main symbol. His work not only documents events but also conjures a deeper emotional resonance that lingered in my mind.

Louis Roth is part of Issue 17 by Guest Editor Torbjørn Rødland.

Check out his Artist Feature fata morgana.